Birdingonthe.Net Recent Postings from The Pelagics List > Home > Mail > Alerts Updated on Saturday, January 7 at 07:22 PM EST The most recently received Mail is at the top.	Blue-cheeked Bee-eater,©Tony Disley

7 Jan Take Two: Steve Howell's Tubenose Book Available ["J. BRIAN PATTESON" ] 15 Dec Dec. 27(28) Hatteras, NC Pelagic Trip Added ["J. BRIAN PATTESON" ] 15 Dec Preciosa filmación !!! HISTORIA DE UN NIDO American robin (Turdus migratorius) [Andrés Requejo de las Heras ] 25 Oct CREATE A BACK YARD WILDLIFE SANCTUARY [Fransisca Caitlin ] 17 Oct Re: OCT 29 Bodega Bay Emergency Pelagic Trip - oops, delete all [Mary Gustafson ] 17 Oct Re: OCT 29 Bodega Bay Emergency Pelagic Trip [Mary Gustafson ] 14 Oct Tropicbirds, Skua, Buller's, Sea Otter off San Diego - Oct 8 2011 Trip Report ["thunefeld" ] 23 Sep Southern California White-chinned Petrel, 12 tropicbirds ["thunefeld" ] 15 Sep SOCAL WHITE-CHINNED PETREL ["thunefeld" ] 9 Sep Next Oregon Inlet, NC trip on Sept. 17 (18) from Wanchese ["J. BRIAN PATTESON" ] 03 Sep SOCAL tropicbirds; Laysan; Cook’s & Dark-rumped Petrels ["thunefeld" ] 31 Aug Pelagic Trip on Sept. 3 or 4 from Wanchese (Oregon Inlet), NC ["J. BRIAN PATTESON" ] 30 Aug Pelagic Trip Sat 9/3 from Wanchese, NC [Brian Patteson ] 19 Aug SoCal Trip Report: 7 tropicbirds, Laysan, Cook’s & Dark-rumped Petrels ["thunefeld" ] 10 Aug Recent and Upcoming Pelagic Trips from Hatteras and Oregon Inlet, NC ["J. BRIAN PATTESON" ] 01 Aug August Grande Pelagic SOLD OUT ["thunefeld" ] 30 Jul Re: Macaronesian Shearwater [Michael Force ] 29 Jul Re: Breaking News: Storm-Petrels [] 28 Jul Re: Update: July 30, 31, August 1 Half Moon Bay [] 27 Jul Re: New seabird book [] 26 Jul Re: Kishfisher - Mobile uploads [] 25 Jul Kishfisher - Mobile uploads [Chelsie Chelsie liz mesina ] 24 Jul Re: Petrels, Tropicbirds, and Upcoming NC Pelagic Trips [] 24 Jul Petrels, Tropicbirds, and Upcoming NC Pelagic Trips ["J. BRIAN PATTESON" ] 22 Jul Re: naturalist's color guide [Andy Paterson ] 22 Jul Re: Deep sea Pelagics off Lima, Peru suspended. [] 21 Jul Re: naturalist's color guide [] 21 Jul Re: Seabird adventures from the South seas [] 19 Jul Re: Re: Hand Feeding Birds in My Locality [] 19 Jul Re: Hand Feeding Birds in My Locality ["John Hansen" ] 19 Jul Re: Re: Hand Feeding Birds in My Locality [] 19 Jul Re: Hand Feeding Birds in My Locality [Andy Paterson ] 19 Jul Re: Hand Feeding Birds in My Locality [] 19 Jul Hand Feeding Birds in My Locality [Chelsie Chelsie liz mesina ] 11 Jul The Ultimate North America Live-Aboard Seabirding Pelagic Trip ["thunefeld" ] 06 Jul MD birding history - 1973 announcement of first winter pelagic trip [Phil Davis ] 03 Jul 48-Hour California Pelagic for petrels, tropicbirds, murrelets ["thunefeld" ] 20 Jun Recent and Upcoming Pelagic Trips from NC, USA ["J. BRIAN PATTESON" ] 17 Jun Vancouver Island Pelagic Trip 18th Sept ["Paul" ] 12 Jun Re: Sneak Peek into Condor Express, Searcher and Grande ["John Hansen" ] 12 Jun Sneak Peek into Condor Express, Searcher and Grande ["thunefeld" ] 09 Jun Memorial Day Weekend 2011 SoCal Pelagic Trip Report ["thunefeld" ] 5 Jun Kerguelen Is Amsterdam Is & Heard Is seabird trip VACANCY [richard baxter ] 5 Jun Kerguelen Is Amsterdam Is & Heard Is seabird trip VACANCY [richard baxter ] 23 May South Pacific ocean-voyaging seabird opportunities 2012 ["Kiwi Wildlife " ] 2 Jun South Polar Skua in Madeira, Portugal [Hugo Romano ] 26 May 14 May 2011 San Diego Pelagic Trip Report FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATER ["thunefeld" ] 23 Apr San Diego Pelagic AND the SALTON SEA -- Sept 4-9, 2011 ["thunefeld" ] 22 Apr Where is the group moderator? [Debra Shearwater ] 22 Apr Birds - The ways of Nature [Birds forced to fight ] 21 Apr Zino's Petrels: 2011 1st Update [Hugo Romano ] 16 Apr Approved ["majorhart2000" ] 08 Apr May Pelagic Trips To Hunt Rarities in So Cal Waters ["thunefeld" ] 04 Feb Sat 29 Jan 2011 Grande: Short-tailed Shearwater. Grey, Humpback and Fin Whales ["thunefeld" ] 11 Jan Good Alcids off Hatteras NOW; Possible Trip Jan. 15 ["J. BRIAN PATTESON" ] 14 Dec 2011 Pelagics from Madeira Islands Update [Hugo Romano ] 6 Dec Fwd: Arabian Shearwaters go to Oz? [Andy Paterson ] 21 Nov Virtual Pelagic Birding in SoCal ["thunefeld" ] 26 Oct 7000 Least Storm-Petrels off San Diego - video ["thunefeld" ] 11 Oct SoCal Wedge-rumped Storm-Petrel & Flesh-footed Shearwater ["thunefeld" ] 30 Sep Star spangled Pelagic coming up this weekend. [Gunnar Engblom ] 30 Sep Star spangled Pelagic coming up this weekend. [Gunnar Engblom ] 23 Sep White-faced Storm-petrels (22) on 2 day New England Pelagic from Cape Cod [Emmalee Tarry ] 20 Sep California Pelagic Birding - past and upcoming ["thunefeld" ] 16 Sep San Diego trip report: Flesh-footed Shearwater; Cook's; 4 tropicbirds ["thunefeld" ] 14 Sep Speedboat pelagics in Lima. [Gunnar Engblom ] 14 Sep Speedboat pelagics in Lima. [Gunnar Engblom ] 14 Sep Pelagic from South West Ireland ["birdingireland" ] 14 Sep Trip report: Perpetua Bank, Oregon, 11 September 2010 ["thebirdguide" ] 9 Sep Added: Hatteras Pelagic Trips Sept. 18 (19); Oct. 16 (17) ["J. BRIAN PATTESON" ] 26 Aug SoCal Pelagic Trip Report & Upcoming Trips ["thunefeld" ] 26 Aug SoCal Pelagic Trip Report & Upcoming Trips ["thunefeld" ] 06 Aug Santa Barbara California 31 July 2010 Trip Report & Video ["thunefeld" ] 30 Jul Aug-Sept SoCal Pelagics - Craveri's Murrelet, Least Storm-Petrels ["thunefeld" ] 11 Jul July 10 Hatteras Report; Next Trip July 24 ["J. BRIAN PATTESON" ] 09 Jul Pelagic off South West Ireland August 2010 ["birdingireland" ] Subject: Take Two: Steve Howell's Tubenose Book Available From: "J. BRIAN PATTESON" <patteson1 AT embarqmail.com> Date: Sat, 7 Jan 2012 19:13:18 -0500 I messed up the link first time around, so here it is again- Seabirders, I just got the word that Steve Howell's latest book, Petrels, Albatrosses, and Storm-Petrels of North America: A Photographic Guide is now available for purchase! I have not yet seen the finished product, but based on what I saw of the draft, it should be hands down the best reference for tubenoses in the Western North Atlantic and the Eastern North Pacific. It has been a long time in the making, and Steve has helped guide many dozens of trips with us here off Cape Hatteras over the course of nine or ten years as part of his research for this book. Steve has put in much more sea time off California and Mexico, and there are few people so qualified to comment on these seabirds. I look forward to the arrival of what will be the indispensable seabird book for the waters surrounding this continent. Read more or order from the Princeton website- http://press.princeton.edu/titles/9534.html Brian Patteson Hatteras, NC brian AT patteson.com www.seabirding.com/ ------------------------------------ Subject: Dec. 27(28) Hatteras, NC Pelagic Trip Added From: "J. BRIAN PATTESON" <patteson1 AT embarqmail.com> Date: Thu, 15 Dec 2011 19:54:39 -0500 It is fairly short notice, but we have added one more pelagic trip to our 2011 schedule. We are planning to run a trip from Hatteras on Dec. 27, with a weather date the following day. It is not a weekend departure, but maybe it will work for some birders who are teachers or students or otherwise have some time off then. We have set the trip up as an effort to help John Vanderpoel find a Great Skua for his North American Big Year. As of Dec. 13, John was at 740 species, so he has a real chance to beat the record, which is 745. We would love to see John break the record, which was set by Sandy Komito in 1998, when you could still get to Attu. I have not been to sea off Hatteras for over a week, but nine days ago there were still plenty of Great Shearwaters around, so maybe there is a chance for a late one on the 27th. The 27th is also the day of the Cape Hatteras CBC, so if we can find a Great Skua or Great Shearwater close enough to shore, there is the chance to add a new species to the all time CBC list. We will certainly be heading out past the circle for much of the day, but we did coax a Sooty Shearwater in bounds three years ago. Other possibilities for the day include Northern Fulmar, Manx Shearwater, Red Phalarope, various rare and uncommon gulls, Black-legged Kittiwake, Pomarine Jaeger, Parasitic Jaeger, Dovekie, Razorbill, Atlantic Puffin, and perhaps even a Common or Thick-billed Murre. There was a Thick-billed Murre a couple of miles from Hatteras Inlet late last December, and there were a few Common Murres around in January. December and January are good months to see Red Phalaropes and kittiwakes off the coast here, generally much better than February, which is when we run most of our trips. Manx Shearwater has also been known to make a strong showing off the NC Outer Banks during early winter. Winter trips will continue in 2012 and include the following dates: Jan. 14(15) Feb. 4(5) Feb. 11(12) Feb. 18 (19) Feb. 19 (20) Feb. 25 (26) Winter trips off Cape Hatteras are a lot of fun because there are so many birds from start to finish. These trips focus on birding in the cold water, not the Gulf Stream, so the biodiversity and the biomass can be quite impressive. There are sometimes thousands of gulls and gannets to go along with the less common, more highly sought "pelagic" species. Photographers should have a field day, as our chum brings the birds close to the boat. More information about the trips, incuding past results, can be found at our website- www.seabirding.com/ I hope that some of you can join us. Brian Patteson Hatteras, NC brian AT patteson.com www.seabirding.com/ ------------------------------------ Subject: Preciosa filmación !!! HISTORIA DE UN NIDO American robin (Turdus migratorius) From: Andrés Requejo de las Heras <arequejoh AT telefonica.net> Date: Thu, 15 Dec 2011 21:30:10 +0100 Un amigo me ha enviado esta preciosa filmación con una música colosal. Disfrutarla http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=9479342 &server=vimeo.com&show_title=0&show_byline=0&show_portrait=0&color=00ADEF&fu llscreen=1 Qué podemos decir ante imágenes como éstas? Solamente podemos agradecer a quien tuvo la paciencia de registrar y hacernos participar de esa belleza. Y la vida continúa, y el ciclo se repite inexorablemente!! Salud, Andrés Requejo de las Heras. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Subject: CREATE A BACK YARD WILDLIFE SANCTUARY From: Fransisca Caitlin <fransiscacaitlin AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 25 Oct 2011 17:49:11 -0700 (PDT) Link to the website:                        bit.ly/ueId3W How to Attract Birds to Your Yard CREATE A BACK YARD WILDLIFE SANCTUARY Attract birds to even the smallest yard by following these simple steps that will turn your backyard into a bird sanctuary. Creating your own bird sanctuary takes some time, but the creation itself is half the pleasure. Native plants will thrive so will be cost effective and will attract songbirds right to your home. Of the many beautiful birds I've seen out in the field, none has been so thrilling as the birds I've seen in my own back yard. My husband keeps a bird list, and he has seen 78 different types of birds in our small yard! One morning, sitting on my back porch with a cup of coffee, I spotted a Rose Breasted Grossbeak at the bird feeder - a gorgeous creature whose vivid colors and unexpected visit coincided with the purchase of a plate with a picture of that very bird at a Good Will store. It was a magic plate! Now, I'm not suggesting that you run out and comb flea markets for bird plates as a method of attracting some feathered friends, just saying that your own private bird sanctuary can seem like a magical place. Like the time I was sitting out on the porch (again) reading and a Carolina wren came to perch on the toe of my shoe. Or the Coopers hawk that landed 6 feet above me in the oak tree. The appearance of a bird you've never seen before can feel like magic, can make your whole day. That is the day you realize that you've succeeded in creating a real backyard bird sanctuary. Chow Time - Offer Foods that Birds Want to Eat HOW TO FEED THE BIRDS AND THWART SQUIRRELS The easiest way to attract birds is by placing a bird feeder somewhere visible from the house. Make sure the feeder stands in a sheltered location or under a tree as hawks cruise backyards shopping for a meal. You may not care to provide lunch for a hungry hawk, that can frighten the children and leave quite a disgusting mess. Buy a spring loaded feeder to thwart squirrels. You may think squirrels are cute but their appeal wears thin as they gobble up bird seed by the pound. A spring loaded feeder closes off access to bird seed as the weight of the squirrel pull it closed. Store birdseed in a metal container as squirrels, rats, and other unwanted critters can tear into a plastic tub. Black sunflower seed is popular with birds and has the high fat content birds need, especially in winter. It's cheaper than striped sunflower seed and has a softer shell. Thistle or niger seed is a tiny black seed best offered in a special feeder. It attracts chickadees, goldfinch, titmice, and other small songbirds. Do not buy the cheap bags of mixed seed. The red millet goes largely uneaten and the white safflower seed attracts pesky birds like starlings and grackles. A hummingbird feeder consists of an upended bottle with several feeding ports. Filled with commercial or homemade nectar, it will attract those amazing little creatures and keep them coming back. Suet Feeders are small wire cages to hold suet (a blend of fats and seeds) that attract Downy woodpeckers. Unfortunately, they also attract nuisance birds like Grackles and Starlings. WHITE BREASTED NUTHATCH AND HOUSE SPARROW ON FEEDER DOWNY WOODPECKER ON A SUET FEEDER Water ATTRACT BIRDS TO A YARD BY OFFERING WATER Of course, all living creatures need water which can be hard to come across in many urban and suburban neighborhoods. No back yard bird sanctuary can be without a water feature. You can go whole hog and dig a pond, buy an attractive bird bath, or merely keep a shallow basin filled with water. A fountain or waterfall in a pond provides the soothing sounds of splashing, so peaceful for you and attractive to birds.  If you decide on a pond, first do your research and do it right to avoid frustrating and costly mistakes. Check with local government to see if fences or permits are necessary for your area. In my domain, any pond over 2 feet deep needs to be sited in a fenced yard. In areas with cold winters, you need a depth of 3 feet so that fish and frogs can overwinter. Site the pond so that it gets some shade to avoid algae build-up. a fountain or waterfall moves the water and a filter cleans the water. You dont' want a stagnant pond stinking up your sanctuary. So do your homework. If you don't want the hard work or headaches of a pond, consider a bird bath or basin. Dont' set the water below a bird feeder as seed debris and bird droppings will quickly foul the water. Change the water frequently, every day in warmer months to avoid mosquitoes. Occasionally clean the bird bath with a scrub brush - it can get yucky. GARDEN POND - WATER ATTRACTS BIRDS My niece put a pond in her yard and attracted one vary impressive bird. The Great blue heron is a magnificent creature, but the little girls became upset when the heron flew off with their goldfish and frogs. They eventually filled in the pond because my niece could not stand the screaming and crying every time the Great blue heron stopped by for lunch. Research and Plan ATTRACT BIRDS BY OFFERING SHELTER Your back yard bird sanctuary must offer shelter and natural food to attract birds. Stick to the native species which birds prefer. Native trees, shrubs, and plants long adapted to your region will thrive in local conditions. Native plants vary with the area you live in. consider planting zones as well as regional differences. Complete a list of the types of areas on your own property in order to select appropriate plants to match each site. think of several aspects of your property. * Plant zone * Altitude * Are you on a slope? a rocky area? Is your yard in a large, field-like area, or are you surrounded by woods? * Soil conditions - clay, sandy loam, acidic, alkaline * Moisture. Is there a low point on your property that is usually damp? Is there good dranage? does your local weather pattern fluctuate between a rainy season and drought? * Sun, shade, or partial shade. Do you have established plants on your property? If you have a mature tree or two, use these as the basis of your plan. consider the shade they cast and adapt your plans around the trees. Trees Your first purchase should be trees. Trees provide you shade n summer so locate your tree in the most advantageous spot for maximized summer shade. You'll save money on the air conditioning and be able to enjoy time outdoors when it's hot. Locate large growing trees at the greatest distance from your home that your property allows. Threes will be the background of your masterpiece and enhance the beauty of your home. birds love trees for shelter, food, nesting, and just hanging out. Study available native species that offer year round interest to you and the birds alike. Many trees produce seeds and berries that attract birds. Mix in some evergreens for winter shelter and a lovely splash of green in grey winter months. Here are some trees to consider: * Birch trees vary in the type appropriate for your area. the beautiful white birch grows best in northern climates. River birches fare well in warmer areas. with their lovely, peeling, salmon colored bark, river birches provide year round interest and can grown to 75'. They will tolerate both spring flooding and summer drought. Yellow bird at 80' is attractive year round and prefers cool, moist conditions. * Beech trees with their smooth silver bark are large trees for a large lot. * Ash (green, red, and swamp) grow up to 75' and tolerate both flooding and drought. White ash (50' - 100') is a fast grower with good fall color. * Sycamores with their patchy peeling bark are beautiful trees that are adaptable to a variety of conditions. These are large growing trees for year round interest. * Elms grow into tall, vase shaped trees perfect for shade. In the 1960's Dutch Elm disease destroyed these lovely trees and many still be considered a threat. Locate Dutch elm resistant specimens. * Eastern Redbud is a small 20' - 30' tree with lovely heart shaped leaves and pink to lavender spring blossoms. * Willow trees are beautiful and fast growing. They are the first to leaf out in spring and the last to hold their green in fall. Willows love moisture so if you have a wet spont, a willow would be perfect. However, fast growing trees die young so may break your heart. I'll never forget when our beautiful Wisconsin willow suddenly died - how my son and I sat on the back porch crying as the tree man tore it down. * Oak trees are tall, long lived, noble trees with a great variety of types including the spectacular live oaks of the south, tall red oaks, and wide spreading white oaks. * Maples come in a vast array of shapes, colors, and sizes. Sugar maples turn vibrant colors in fall and grow up to 100 feet tall. Silver, white, river, and soft maples become huge trees as well, but don't produce a spectacular fall display. * American hornbeam is a slow grower up to 40' but can be short-lived.  * White fringetree is a small up to 35' tree with good fall color, and flowers in spring. * Dogwoods are small trees, 25' - 30'. Pagoda produces spring flowers and enjoy some shade. The fruits attract birds. * Cockspur hawthorn is another small tree that appreciates dry rocky places or low, rich slopes. * Crab-apple (10' - 30') produces beautiful, fragrant spring flowers and sour little apples popular with birds. * Evergreens provide year round color and year round shelter for birds. There are so many types of evergreens, it's easy to find several suitable types for your yard. White pine with its long, soft needles is a large, wide spreading, aromatic tree, attractive to birds for winter cover and food. Pitch pine (50' - 75') provides food for birds and lives on slopes as well as moist areas. Virginiapine or Jersey pine is tolerant of moisture, grows 70' - 90' tall and provides food for birds. Shrubs Native shrubs are attractive and adapted to your climate. they provide food and shelter for birds and beautify your property. Shrubs offer privacy and a wide variety of texture and color to your masterpiece. Shrubs can grow large as a small tree or be low growing. shrubs can be evergreen or flowering or have interesting color variations and leaf shapes. consider shrubs that offer berries that birds can eat during colder months. Some native shrubs for consideration: * American beautyberry or French mulberry is a tall shrub that flowers in summer and produces lavender berries in fall. * New Jersey Tea bush is a small, tough shrub with white summer flowers and black fall fruits. * Buttonbush, a tall shrub, needs sun to produce fragrant flowers. It tolerates both drought and flooding. * Sweet pepperbush is another tall shrub that produces fragrant flowers. It is somewhat salt tolerant. * Huckleberry, raspberry, blueberry, and blackberry are medium sized bushes that offer fruit to both birds and humans. * Witch hazel can grow tall as a small tree and is noted for its fall color and winter blooms. * Wild hydrangea grows 3' - 6' and flowers throughout the summer. Its leaves are poisonous to humans. * Inkberry grows 6' - 10' and flowers n late spring. It produces black colored berries in winter and tolerates some salt flooding. * Winterberry grows up to 12' tall and provides winder fruit for birds but the fruit is poisonous to humans. Plants Many of our favorite perennials and ornamental flowers are native plants. Carefully select plants with a variety of blooming tines so that you will always have flowers. Flowers attract beneficial insects, bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. If you dead-head flowers to encourage new blooms, end this practice as fall approaches. Allow flowers to go to seed, which provides food for smaller birds. some seeds that fall to the ground will propagate and spread your native flowers, growing your garden and saving money on plant purchases. Native flowering plants differ depending on your area of the country. But many area are home to several attractive flowering plants. * Solidago, also called goldenrod is beautiful and adaptive to many conditions. there are many varieties of solidago. they make a great filler in floral arrangements and attract butterflies. * Asters. there are many types of asters from the tiny white September aster to the tall growing, vividly purple New England Aster. the 6' New England aster can be trimmed back in summer so that the plants don't flop over from the wight of the fall flowers. Asters generally bloom from late summer into fall. * Indigo or baptista is a shrub like plant that prefers sun to partial shade and produces blue to violet flowers in spring. * Meadow rue come in both early blooming small and tall late blooming varieties. * Columbine is a delicate 3' plant that enjoys sun to partial shade and bloom in a variety of colors in spring. * Iris.The wild kind are smaller than the large hybrid irises and like moisture. * Joe Pye Weed is a tall (6') showy plant with dark stems that contrast with bright, green leaves. It flowers a violet or pink fluffy bloom in late summer or early fall. * Cone-flowers bloom yellow, white, and violet or purple. They prefer bright sunshine and spread easily. Goldfinch love the seeds in fall. * Queen Anne's lace is a 3' plant with fern like leaves and a lovely round white, many bloomed flower. * Phlox come in many sizes and produce tiny white to purple flowers. * Obedient plant or dragon-head is a tall lant with pink to purple flowers in summer. * Prickly pear cactus, the only cactus native east of the Mississippi, produces luminous yellow flowers in June. * Sundrops are small plants with yellow flowers. * Lobelia is a delphinium like blue flowering plant that blooms late summer to mid fall. * Lupine produces flowers on spikes from May to June * Liatris is a tall, feathered spike that blooms white, pink, or purple and is popular in floral arrangements. * Butterfly weed likes dry areas and is a bushy plant whose orange flowers attract butterflies. * Snakeroot is a shade loving plant that produces spiky white flowers from June to September. * Solomons seal is a shade loving plant with white edged leaves that dangles tiny white blooms in early spring. * Robin's plantain grows a little over a foot tall, prefers partial shade and flowers all summer in shades of flue, pink, and white. It likes open woods, meadows, and roadsides. The Sanctuary Going native is an involvement with your local environment and community. You can find native plants at some area nurseries. environmentally friendly organizations often have spring plant sales that offer native plants grown in your region. Clubs and organizations have sprung up around streams and watersheds as well as area parks and arboretums and encourage the use of native plants by holding plant fairs and sales. For most folks, going native all at once is an impossible task due to the cost and labor involved. Instead, replace dead or invasive, and non-native plants slowly over the years. Introduce a new plant or two every season. With an ever changing palette, your backyard masterpiece will evolve over the years providing ongoing interest. The joy of turning a blank canvas into a natural garden is an involement in the act of creation that leads to a spiritual connection with nature. Please spend a few moments of your busy life while browsing through the following website. Leave a comment to motivate me. thanx  regards. Link to the website:                        bit.ly/ueId3W [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Subject: Re: OCT 29 Bodega Bay Emergency Pelagic Trip - oops, delete all From: Mary Gustafson <live4birds AT aol.com> Date: Mon, 17 Oct 2011 13:27:10 -0400 (EDT) Sorry, that was meant just for Debi. Mary Gustafson Mission, Texas [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Subject: Re: OCT 29 Bodega Bay Emergency Pelagic Trip From: Mary Gustafson <live4birds AT aol.com> Date: Mon, 17 Oct 2011 13:25:03 -0400 (EDT) Holy cow, I think I can actually make this date. Hold me a seat while I check flights! Mary Gustafson Mission, Texas -----Original Message----- From: Debra Shearwater To: Debi Shearwater Sent: Mon, Oct 17, 2011 12:00 pm Subject: [pelagics] OCT 29 Bodega Bay Emergency Pelagic Trip Howdy, Birders, For the second time in just a few months, Todd McGrath has found a WHITE-CHINNED PETREL. The most recent sighting was near CORDELL BANK on Sunday, October 16th. It was sitting on the water with a flock of Northern Fulmars. Excellent images were made, both in flight and on the water. Todd told me last night that this is not the same individual that he found on the September 6 Searcher trip: http://socaltripreports.com/?p=331 Given these two WHITE-CHINNED records, and the two sightings of GREAT- WINGED PETREL (found by Abe Borker on August 26, Monterey Bay and Phil Hansbro on September 17, Half Moon Bay, both on Shearwater Journeys' trips), and reports by fishermen at Bodega Bay of recent sightings of SHORT-TAILED ALBATROSS, I've determined that an "emergency" pelagic trip at Bodega Bay is in order. In addition, seabirds were abundant at Bodega Canyon and Cordell Bank this past weekend. Late October and November are really great times to get out on the ocean. Most of the southern hemisphere breeders have departed, making the unusual or rare seabird stand out more readily, i.e. every one of Shearwater Journeys' October pelagic trips, from every port, found at least one FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATER. Our Half Moon Bay trip on October 16th found four Flesh-footed Shearwaters and a LAYSAN ALBATROSS. You do need a reservation. Here's the drill: Date: SAT, OCT 29 Places of departure: PORT O'BODEGA Meeting time: 6:30 am, sharp Return time: about 5 pm Boat fee: $230 per person To make a reservation: Email your name, home address, cell phone to debi AT shearwaterjourneys.com and put your check in the mail, immediately. Reservations on a first-come, first-served basis. You will need to have a reply from me for a firm reservation. Preparation: Dress very warmly, bring all food & drinks for the day. You must wear close-toed shoes. I will be out of the office today and tomorrow. The best way to reach me is by email. Please watch my blog for updates, images and more information. See below, for Great-winged Petrel images: http://shearwaterjourneys.blogspot.com/2011_08_01_archive.html http://shearwaterjourneys.blogspot.com/2011/08/great-winged-petrel- additional-images.html http://shearwaterjourneys.blogspot.com/2011/08/breaking-news-great- winged-petrel.html Jump on board! Shearwaters and Auklets Forever, Debi Shearwater AKA: Annie Auklet in the movie, "The Big Year" now playing at a theater near you! Debra Shearwater Shearwater Journeys, Inc. PO Box 190 Hollister, CA 95024 831.637.8527 debi AT shearwaterjourneys.com www.shearwaterjourneys.com www.shearwaterjourneys.blogspot.com SVALBARD: High Arctic Seabirds & Polar Bears, Walrus: 28 June-8 July, 2013 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Subject: Tropicbirds, Skua, Buller's, Sea Otter off San Diego - Oct 8 2011 Trip Report From: "thunefeld" <thunefeld AT gmail.com> Date: Fri, 14 Oct 2011 19:26:57 -0000 Greetings, The all day (13hour) Oct 8, 2011 Buena Vista Audubon Society GRANDE pelagic trip report is up with a few of Tom Blackman's photos and links to the Union Tribune article and the Channel 8 video/news report of the Sea Otter spotted by Dave Povey just off the Zuniga Jetty on our return home. http://socaltripreports.com/?p=401 The trip was a great success and an awful lot of fun. Buller's Shearwater, Least & Ashy Storm-petrels, South Polar Skua and 3 Red-billed Tropicbirds made it all the more fun. We're off again tomorrow morning to the edge of the Continental Shelf to hunt pterodromas on a 56 hour adventure on GRANDE courtesy of the Buena Vista Audubon Society. Wish us luck! http://socalbirding.com/upcomingtrips/sandiegooct151756hr.html Peace on earth. W. Terry Hunefeld, Encinitas Life is short. Seabird often. In memory of Luke Cole and Mike San Miguel "Come on out with us to see what's out there." Southern California Seabirding Trips by: Buena Vista Audubon Society http://www.SoCalBirding.com Los Coronados Islands & Nine Mile Bank all the way to the edge of the Continental Shelf Our SoCal Pelagic "e-Newsletters" http://www.facebook.com/SoCalPelagics and http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SoCalBirding A Few Of Our Seabird & Marine Mammal Adventures: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eC4qRYFdjXo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABXQwF2vD2w http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8UdCYAOax0 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyb8fBCsP0s ------------------------------------ Subject: Southern California White-chinned Petrel, 12 tropicbirds From: "thunefeld" <thunefeld AT gmail.com> Date: Fri, 23 Sep 2011 02:20:00 -0000 (San Diego) The Trip Report, photos and video are now posted for the Labor Day week Southern California pelagic trip aboard SEARCHER featuring Todd McGrath's WHITE-CHINNED PETREL plus 12 Red-billed Tropicbirds and a pod of well photographed Baird's Beaked Whales. Full trip report, photos, video: http://socaltripreports.com/?p=331 The video only is posted at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0a-c4tZz7M So far in SoCal this summer we've seen Cook's Petrel, Dark-rumped Petrel and lots of tropicbirds near the shelf edge. The final pelagic trip this year to the shelf edge is aboard the Buena Vista Audubon Society charter of GRANDE on Oct 15-17. The 2010 October trip recorded Wedge-rumped Storm-Petrel and Flesh-footed Shearwater. This trip is a "for sure" go, room for 8 more. http://socalbirding.com/upcomingtrips/sandiegooct151756hr.html White-chinned Petrel 3:22 p.m. 6 Sept 2011 34°10'4.47"N 120°22'19.07"W 5.5 n (10.5 km) miles N of San Miguel 17 n. miles . (31.7 km) S of Pt Conception W. Terry Hunefeld, Encinitas Life is short. Seabird often. In memory of Luke Cole and Mike San Miguel "Come on out with us to see what's out there." Southern California Seabirding Trips by: Buena Vista Audubon Society http://www.SoCalBirding.com Los Coronados Islands & Nine Mile Bank all the way to the edge of the Continental Shelf ------------------------------------ Subject: SOCAL WHITE-CHINNED PETREL From: "thunefeld" <thunefeld AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 15 Sep 2011 17:22:53 -0000 (San Diego) SEARCHER returned from its Labor Day week pelagic from San Diego to the Channel Islands off Santa Barbara then out to the Shelf Edge, Rodriguez Dome and Bell Bank. The trip was full of Black-footed Albatrosses, Long-tailed Jaegers (65) and Red-billed Tropicbirds (12) but the big news came on Tuesday afternoon as we were departing the Channel Islands for the continental shelf… a WHITE-CHINNED PETREL came into the slick. Todd McGrath obtained awesome photos (one of them seen in this video) and I obtained some fuzzy video footage seen in this 40 second sneak-peek "movie trailer." The full trip report & video are currently in production as we await participants to process and email us some of their best photos. WHITE-CHINNED PETREL MOVIE TRAILER: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDathWSjSxo So far in SoCal this summer we've seen Cook's Petrel, Dark-rumped Petrel and lots of tropicbirds near the shelf edge. The last trip this year to these waters is aboard the Buena Vista Audubon Society charter of GRANDE on Oct 15-17. Last year we saw a Wedge-rumped Storm-Petrel and Flesh-footed Shearwater on the October trip. The price is $325 but an early bird special through next Wednesday saves you $30. http://socalbirding.com/upcomingtrips/sandiegooct151756hr.html W. Terry Hunefeld, Encinitas Life is short. Seabird often. In memory of Luke Cole and Mike San Miguel "Come on out with us to see what's out there." Southern California Seabirding Trips by: Buena Vista Audubon Society http://www.SoCalBirding.com Los Coronados Islands & Nine Mile Bank all the way to the edge of the Continental Shelf ------------------------------------ Subject: Next Oregon Inlet, NC trip on Sept. 17 (18) from Wanchese From: "J. BRIAN PATTESON" <patteson1 AT embarqmail.com> Date: Fri, 9 Sep 2011 07:59:38 -0400 Seabirders, Thanks to all who came on short notice so that we could run a pelagic trip from Wanchese, NC on Sunday, Sept. 4. It was a beautiful day at sea, with the highlight being an adult Sabine's Gull that joined us for several minutes (photo on our trip report at www.seabirding.com/) . We also saw two Long-tailed Jaegers, another seasonal specialty. Shearwaters were in lower numbers than they had been pre-Irene, but we almost always had some Great and Cory's around while we were in the Gulf Stream. We also found a nice variety of non-avian sea life, including Pilot Whales, Leatherback and Loggerhead Sea Turtles, and a couple of Yellowfin Tuna, which joined us for the ride back to shore. I have always liked September for pelagic birding off the Outer Banks, but we do not always schedule trips because attendance is hard to predict. We have had a few more inquiries than usual this year about mid-September though, so I would like to run at least one more trip next weekend, Saturday, September 17, with a weather date that Sunday. Hatteras Island is still not acessible by road, so we are returning to Wanchese on Roanoke Island, where we are close to Oregon Inlet (a little closer than Manteo.) The list of birds that we have seen on past NC September trips is long and varied. Trindade Petrel, Fea's Petrel, Black-capped Petrel, Bermuda Petrel, Cory's Shearwater, Great Shearwater, Manx Shearwater, Audubon's Shearwater, Wilson's Storm-Petrel, White-tailed Tropicbird, Red-billed Tropicbird, Masked Booby, Brown Booby, Red-necked Phalarope, Red Phalarope, Sabine's Gull, Sooty Tern, Bridled Tern, South Polar Skua, Pomarine Jaeger, Parasitic Jaeger, and Long-tailed Jaeger have all been recorded in mid to late September. It is prime time for Sabine's Gull, a real rarity off the East Coast, and it is also peak time for juvenile Long-tailed Jaegers moving south. Though we have not yet seen a White-faced Storm-Petrel on our trips off NC in September, they are annual visitors, and we have seen them before in September off southern Virginia. Except for Band-rumped Storm-Petrels, which clear out in late August, pretty much all of the summer birds are still around in September, and it is cooler and less crowded on the Outer Banks, with post-summer motel rates. Wanchese is just a few miles south of Manteo on Roanoke Island. Please feel free to pass this along to interested parties. This is as good time as any for a first pelagic trip. Brian Patteson Hatteras, NC brian AT patteson.com www.seabirding.com/ ------------------------------------ Subject: SOCAL tropicbirds; Laysan; Cook’s & Dark-rumped Petrels From: "thunefeld" <thunefeld AT gmail.com> Date: Sat, 03 Sep 2011 16:19:29 -0000 The TRIP TRAX (showing exact locations of the Cook's & Dark-rumped Petrels, Laysan Albatross, Townsend's Storm-petrels, 7 Red-billed Tropicbirds) off Southern California is now posted along with the TRIP VIDEO of the August 15-16 Buena Vista Audubon Society annual late summer 48-hour pelagic trip. Click on http://socaltripreports.com/?p=278 The last deep water trip to the shelf edge from SoCal this season with space remaining (seen in previous years: Least, Leach's, Black and Ashy Storm-petrels, Laysan & BF Albatrosses, Flesh-footed and Buller's Shearwaters, RB Tropicbirds, Xantus's & Craveri's Murrelets, Cook's & Hawaiian Petrels) is sponsored by Buena Vista Audubon Society aboard GRANDE Oct 15-17: http://socalbirding.com/upcomingtrips/sandiegooct151756hr.html W. Terry Hunefeld, Encinitas Life is short. Seabird often. In memory of Luke Cole and Mike San Miguel "Come on out with us to see what's out there." Southern California Seabirding Trips by: Buena Vista Audubon Society http://www.SoCalBirding.com Los Coronados Islands & Nine Mile Bank all the way to the edge of the Continental Shelf Our SoCal Pelagic "e-Newsletters" http://www.facebook.com/SoCalPelagics and http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SoCalBirding A Few Of Our Seabird & Marine Mammal Adventures: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eC4qRYFdjXo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABXQwF2vD2w http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8UdCYAOax0 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyb8fBCsP0s ------------------------------------ Subject: Pelagic Trip on Sept. 3 or 4 from Wanchese (Oregon Inlet), NC From: "J. BRIAN PATTESON" <patteson1 AT embarqmail.com> Date: Wed, 31 Aug 2011 19:59:04 -0400 Finally got online w/ this computer for the first time since Saturday morning. We need to make some sort of decision about running a pelagic trip this weekend by Thursday afternoon or evening. I had proposed this trip a week ago to make up for what we lost last weekend, but loss of communications down here on the island ruined getting the word out. I'm looking at the forecast, and it looks good for both Saturday and Sunday. I was hoping to go Saturday, but if for some reason there are more people who could go on Sunday, we will entertain that option, as we are presently underbooked for Saturday. I went to Wanchese Monday and we put the boat back in the water, so as to be ready to run. We had some great birding before the storm. Many birds were no doubt displaced by the storm (tropicbirds in Delaware Bay on Sunday morning!), but hopefully they are making their way back down here on the cool northeasterly winds. September is one of the best months of the year to go offshore but it is so often cursed w/ low bookings we don't run as many trips as we used to. It is prime time for tropical terns and Long-tailed Jaegers. We have seen nearly all of the rarities that occur here from June to August on trips in September. And it will be much cooler than mid summer! Wanchese is on Roanoke Island south of Manteo, so the trip gets to sea through Oregon Inlet, which was recently deepened and widened by Irene. Most of the White-faced Storm-Petrels seen off North Carolina have been found in late summer off Oregon Inlet. Calm weather greatly increases the chances to spot one. Getting out to sea also greatly helps your chances to see any of the pelagic seabirds off our coast. It's exciting to look for these poor exhausted pelagic birds when they are driven inland by storms, but it is much nicer to see them feeding and doing well on the ocean. Contact me ASAP if you are able to join us, so that we can settle on a date and confirm the trip. It would be a shame to miss out on such a pretty weekend. Hopefully e-mail is up for a while; if it goes down here, I should be able to get it nearby on my laptop. The land line went down again but voice mail is working on it at 252-986-1363, and my cell is up now at 252-216-9163. Brian Patteson Hatteras, NC brian AT patteson.com www.seabirding.com ------------------------------------ Subject: Pelagic Trip Sat 9/3 from Wanchese, NC From: Brian Patteson <patteson1 AT embarqmail.com> Date: Tue, 30 Aug 2011 12:25:59 -0400 We are trying to run a pelagic trip from Wanchese, NC this Saturday, Sept. 3 aboard our boat, the Stormy Petrel II, but we need a few more people to make it happen. We were just out from Wanchese on August 20, 22, 23, and 24 and we amassed a nice list of birds including Black-capped Petrel, Cory's, Great, Sooty (!), Manx, and Audubon's Shearwaters, Wilson's and Band-rumped Storm-Petrels, Masked Booby (two trips!), Red-necked Phalarope, Bridled and Sooty Terns, Pomarine and Long-tailed Jaegers, and South Polar Skua. We also saw some dark skuas which might have been one year old Great Skuas, but we need to do a bit more research on that. Overall there were good numbers of birds, especially shearwaters. Obviously, we need to know ASAP from interested parties so we can see if there are enough participants to run the trip. Unfortunately, I don't have internet at my house b/c of the recent storm, but my phone is working and I do have voice mail at 252-986-1363. So please call, do not reply to this e-mail as power is up and down and I might not be able to get e-mail for extended periods. Cell phones are not working down here in Hatteras, but should work in the Wanchese area when the time comes. The weather forecast is for light winds and slight seas this Saturday and with northeasterly winds over the next three or four days, so that should be good for the return of storm-shuffled birds and the arrival of fall migrants, such as juvenile Long-tailed Jaegers. Late summer is an excellent time to see a wide variety of species on a trip, and it is the best time to see Bridled and Sooty Terns. There is always a long shot chance for White-faced Storm-Petrel on trips from Oregon Inlet, where the water is a bit cooler than it is off Hatteras. For more information and to make a reservation, call me at 252-986-1363. Brian Patteson Hatteras, NC brian AT patteson.com www.seabirding.com ------------------------------------ Subject: SoCal Trip Report: 7 tropicbirds, Laysan, Cook’s & Dark-rumped Petrels From: "thunefeld" <thunefeld AT gmail.com> Date: Fri, 19 Aug 2011 17:27:45 -0000 Greetings: Following is the summary report of leader Paul Lehman re the sold-out (44 birders) Buena Vista Audubon Society annual late summer 48-hour pelagic trip on the live-aboard GRANDE from San Diego to the shelf edge approx 135 n. miles off shore. The complete trip report, species lists and photos are in production and will be posted in about a week. There are two remaining live-aboard deep water trips from SoCal this season with spaces remaining (both of these annual trips are noted for their records of Least, Leach's, Black and Ashy Storm-petrels, Laysan & BF Albatrosses, Flesh-footed and Buller's Shearwaters, RB Tropicbirds, Craveri's Murrelets, Cook's & Hawaiian Petrels): SEARCHER Sept 5-9: http://socalbirding.com/upcomingtrips/searchersep592011.html GRANDE Oct 15-17: http://socalbirding.com/upcomingtrips/sandiegooct151756hr.html Terry Hunefeld, San Diego Life is short. Seabird often. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2011 Aug 15-17 GRANDE TRIP SUMMARY BY PAUL E. LEHMAN The double-overnight pelagic trip aboard "Grande" from 7AM Mon to 7AM Weds (15-17 Aug) to the edge of the continental shelf well southwest of San Diego (in both San Diego and, mostly, Los Angeles County waters) recorded some excellent birds. Inshore it was calm and with just a light breeze; out at the edge of the shelf there was a 15-20mph NW wind (good for pterodromas!) and moderate swell and chop. Highlights included: As we left port Monday AM, there were THREE AMERICAN-type OYSTERCATCHERS (2 Americans and 1 hybrid-type is our best guess!) and 1 Black Oystercatcher at Ballast Point. Inshore, Monday, we birded 9-Mile Bank and 30-Mile Bank, then headed SW. At the shelf-edge, Tuesday, we worked a ca. 44-nm line from NW to SE, mostly 87-95+nm south of San Clemente Island or 130-140nm SW of Point Loma. DARK-RUMPED PETREL: around mid-day Tuesday, one flew by the bow and quickly away, seen adequately by only several on board, and as a "large pterodroma" by most others. COOK'S PETREL: one seen well by almost everyone near the back of the boat early on Tuesday. LAYSAN ALBATROSS: one came in to the boat with Black-foots on Tuesday. RED-BILLED TROPICBIRD: total of SEVEN (!) seen on trip, one late Monday near Butterfly Bank, 5 in one relatively short stretch along shelf-edge on Tuesday AM, and one on the way back in late Tues; excellent views of several of them right around boat WILSON'S STORM-PETREL: one made a single pass past the bow and continued away in San Diego County waters on Monday, 17.5nm W of Point Loma OTHER SPECIES SEEN INCLUDE: Western Grebe: 1 swimming in ocean 17.5 miles offshore (!) on Monday Black-footed Albatross: ca. 7 total, though difficult to determine total due to constant presence of birds behind the boat on Tues Leach's Storm-Petrel: 150+ total, including many dark-rumped; 2 in SD Co. Ashy Storm-Petrel: 3 SD waters, 3 LA waters 1600 Black Storm-Petrels: 1500 of which in one raft on 9-Mile Bank Least Storm-Petrel: 1 briefly seen by few in the large BLSP raft Xantus's Murrelet: 3 scrippsi near 30-mile Bank and 2 HYPOLEUCUS at shelf edge Rhinoceros Auklet: 3 unseasonal birds total, 2 SD, 1 LA Sabine's Gull: 15, including several birds starting only 2-3 miles off Pt Loma Long-tailed Jaeger: 11 total, with 4 in SD Co. waters Arctic Tern: 4 and….. the usual Pink-foots, Sooties, Pomarines, phalaropes, Cassin's, 15 Common Terns, etc…. two land birds landed on board--Eurasian Collared-Dove and Brown-headed Cowbird.... the dove rode with us all the way back to Point Loma after consuming several dishes of water and some French Toast. In all, good numbers of birds at 9-Mile and 30-Mile Banks and then the usual long stretches with relatively few birds as one got well offshore, but there certainly was fine quality!!! --Paul Lehman, San Diego ------------------------------------ Subject: Recent and Upcoming Pelagic Trips from Hatteras and Oregon Inlet, NC From: "J. BRIAN PATTESON" <patteson1 AT embarqmail.com> Date: Wed, 10 Aug 2011 10:52:40 -0400 Seabirders, We just had a couple of more good pelagic trips from Hatteras on August 6 and 7. On August 6 we saw hundreds of shearwaters and several jaegers, as well as the regular deep water birds- Black-capped Petrel and Band-rumped Storm-Petrel. I had high hopes for South Polar Skua as we had seen a few in the area on Friday during a fishing trip on our boat, but no such luck. The wind breezed up a bit by Sunday morning, and the shearwater flocks had dispersed. We started chumming near the shelf break and at 8:48 a light morph Trindade Petrel came zipping in the sniff the slick. It remained in view for a couple of minutes. For the next three hours or so we tacked offshore, chumming along the way and stopping occasionally. Birds were sparse at times, but Band-rumped Storm-Petrels were with us most of the time, along with just a few Wilson's. Black-capped Petrels also made several visits to the slick, and around 11:15 another Trindade Petrel, darker than the first but not as dark as some, came in and made a nice pass. This one stayed in view for a few minutes as it circled around with a small flock of shearwaters a few hundred yards out. The inshore tack was still good for Band-rumps, and we had them all the way back to the shelf waters. What a difference from the previous weekend when there were hundreds of Wilson's but hardly any Band-rumped Storm-Petrels! I was a bit surprised not to see any Bridled or Sooty Terns all weekend, but we did not see much flotsam in the scatterd Gulf Weed, and that is a big factor for Bridled Terns. We did see a few Bridleds on Friday, August 5, and there should some moving northward now, both adults and young of the year. Our next pelagic trips are set for August 13 and 14 from Hatteras. Space is available on those trips. Last year we saw a mega-rarity on August 14- Black-bellied Storm-Petrel! For what it's worth, birders on a boat trip from Madeira just saw a Black-bellied Storm-Petrel there TWO DAYS AGO. Looking ahead to the forecast, the winds are going to be from the northeast tomorrow, from the east Friday, from the southeast and south on Saturday, and then southwest on Sunday. Shifting winds generally make for interesting pelagic birding here, and it is not much different from the set-up for last weekend. We had light easterlies last Friday and a moderate sou'wester on Sunday, when we saw the Trindade Petrels. The list of seabird species seen here in mid to late August over past years is long and includes many rarities, as well as seasonal specialties such as the tropical terns. On August 19, we are heading up to Wanchese, NC. From there we will be running pelagic trips off Oregon Inlet on several days from August 20 to August 27 or 28, depending on bookings. So far, we have five days confirmed- August 20 (weather date next day), and August 22, 23, 24 (weather date Aug 25), and August 27 (weather date 28.) Details are available on our website- www.seabirding.com/; because there is still space, we are offering single day bookings for the "Free Range Adventure" 3 day set weekday trips- Aug. 22-25. It is worth noting that these trips could spend more time in White-faced Storm-Petrel habitat, but we do not plan to go there every day unless there are good numbers and diversity of birds to the east and northeast of the inlet. Last year there there was great birding east of Oregon Inlet in late August, but we did not find a White-faced. Perhaps this year will be better. We are limiting the trips on August 22 to 25 to 18 passengers max. At this point, these are our last pelagic trips planned for this summer, although we could add a trip or two if there is sufficient demand. Brian Patteson Hatteras, NC brian AT patteson.com www.seabirding.com/ ------------------------------------ Subject: August Grande Pelagic SOLD OUT From: "thunefeld" <thunefeld AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 01 Aug 2011 00:51:47 -0000 Greetings, The fourth annual Buena Vista Audubon Society Summer 48-hour Live-aboard Pelagic trip aboard Grande to the edge of the Continental Shelf on Aug 15-16 has SOLD OUT for the fourth year. Point Loma Sportfishing is maintaining a backup list. http://socalbirding.com/upcomingtrips/sandiegoaug151648hr.html There are still some spots available on North America's most luxurious birding live-aboard, SEARCHER, embarking on its eighth annual 4-day Labor Day week trip through the Channel Islands then out to the edge of the Continental Shelf. Rarities and mega-rarities are found on nearly every Labor Day week trip because we cover so much territory for such a prolonged period of time – and do it all in luxury with the amazing Chef Chaz doing his best to ensure that we gain weight. This wonderful trip featuring whales, dolphins and rare seabirds is an amazing experience for birders and non-birders alike and is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Details of the SEARCHER Labor Day Week Live-aboard Pelagic: http://socalbirding.com/upcomingtrips/searchersep592011.html If you've been wondering what it's like on a pelagic trip from SoCal, you can get a "sneak peek" inside and onboard our three primary vessels: SEARCHER, GRANDE, and CONDOR EXPRESS. http://tinyurl.com/pelagics-sneak-peek The Status & Distribution of SoCal Pelagic Birds can be viewed at: http://socalbirding.com/seabirdreference.html Peace on earth. W. Terry Hunefeld, Encinitas Life is short. Seabird often. In memory of Luke Cole and Mike San Miguel "Come on out with us to see what's out there." Southern California Seabirding Trips by: Buena Vista Audubon Society http://www.SoCalBirding.com Los Coronados Islands & Nine Mile Bank all the way to the edge of the Continental Shelf Our SoCal Pelagic "e-Newsletters" http://www.facebook.com/SoCalPelagics and http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SoCalBirding A Few Of Our Seabird & Marine Mammal Adventures: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eC4qRYFdjXo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABXQwF2vD2w http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8UdCYAOax0 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyb8fBCsP0s ------------------------------------ Subject: Re: Macaronesian Shearwater From: Michael Force <pagodroma AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 30 Jul 2011 10:00:56 -0700 (PDT) Thanks to those who pointed out my error. For the record, the bird was seen 165 nautical miles EAST of Nantucket, not west. Furthermore, depending on what one thinks regarding nomenclature, it could also be Barolo Shearwater.   Michael Force currently aboard NOAA ship Henry B. Bigelow about 140 nautical miles ESE of Nantucket pagodroma AT yahoo.com [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Subject: Re: Breaking News: Storm-Petrels From: jmarcos AT seo.org Date: 29 Jul 2011 00:21:46 +0200 Seré fora de l'oficina fins el 24 d'agost Estaré fuera de la oficina hasta el 24 de agosto I'll be out of office till August 24th ------------------------------------ Subject: Re: Update: July 30, 31, August 1 Half Moon Bay From: jmarcos AT seo.org Date: 28 Jul 2011 18:04:55 +0200 Seré fora de l'oficina fins el 24 d'agost Estaré fuera de la oficina hasta el 24 de agosto I'll be out of office till August 24th ------------------------------------ Subject: Re: New seabird book From: jmarcos AT seo.org Date: 27 Jul 2011 00:10:14 +0200 Seré fora de l'oficina fins el 24 d'agost Estaré fuera de la oficina hasta el 24 de agosto I'll be out of office till August 24th ------------------------------------ Subject: Re: Kishfisher - Mobile uploads From: jmarcos AT seo.org Date: 26 Jul 2011 02:49:19 +0200 Seré fora de l'oficina fins el 24 d'agost Estaré fuera de la oficina hasta el 24 de agosto I'll be out of office till August 24th ------------------------------------ Subject: Kishfisher - Mobile uploads From: Chelsie Chelsie liz mesina <chelsiechelsielizmesina AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 25 Jul 2011 17:49:04 -0700 (PDT) I was lucky to have shot this picture. This picture is of last august and i dedicated to my late girl friend debby. She was there with my that day when i took this picture with my mobile.                                         http://mobile-uploads-kingfisher.notlong.com Peace [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Subject: Re: Petrels, Tropicbirds, and Upcoming NC Pelagic Trips From: jmarcos AT seo.org Date: 24 Jul 2011 20:54:33 +0200 Seré fora de l'oficina fins el 24 d'agost Estaré fuera de la oficina hasta el 24 de agosto I'll be out of office till August 24th ------------------------------------ Subject: Petrels, Tropicbirds, and Upcoming NC Pelagic Trips From: "J. BRIAN PATTESON" <patteson1 AT embarqmail.com> Date: Sun, 24 Jul 2011 14:54:04 -0400 Seabirders, After having a great winter and an excellent spring pelagic season, summer is shaping up nicely off Hatteras. We were out both days last weekend (July 16 and 17) and had a most memorable trip on Sunday seeing 12 species of pelagic seabirds, including two Trindade Petrels, two Manx Shearwaters (a good midsummer find), and four or five White-tailed Tropicbirds! Although we had not been out for a few weeks prior to that, it has been a record setting summer for tropicbirds and Trindade Petrels out in the deep, based on survey reports from a NOAA ship running transects off NC in early July. The tropicbirds have been more numerous than usual since late May and early June, when we saw the most we have ever seen in spring. It remains to be seen how long the tropicbird and Trindade Petrel summer will continue, but if this is anything like previous tropicbird incursions during the mid 1990's, we should have more encounters through August. Our next trips are planned for July 30, July 31, and August 1. Although there are just a few spaces left on July 30, we still have plenty of room on the next two trips. We also have plenty of room on all of our August trips at this point, with trips scheduled for every weekend next month. The latter trips tend to be better for Bridled and Sooty Terns, as they are just beginning to disperse northward after nesting. Shearwaters were abundant on the trips we have run so far this summer, with many Cory's and Great Shearwaters around this month. Juvenile Audubon's Shearwaters are starting to show up here, and we were able to find Manx Shearwaters in the larger mixed species flocks on both of the last two trips. We also saw South Polar Skuas on two of three trips we ran this month. Photo ops have been excellent, with good set-ups for no less then ten species of pelagic seabirds (not counting local terns) on the last trip. To find out more about these trips, please visit our website, where we have a wealth of information and many helpful photos taken right from the deck of our boat. Kate Sutherland has been keeping the site up to date, and you can read about last weekend's trips in more detail in her trip report. There is also an extensive set of daily reports from the trips we ran this spring. Those were some good trips, but the summer trips can be just as good, often better, for some species of interest. There are no juvenile Bridled or Sooty Terns around during spring, and with the exception of this year, we seldom see White-tailed Tropicbirds before June. Numbers of large tubenoses are almost always higher in summer, and some of our biggest counts of Black-capped Petrels ever were made in July and August. Likewise for Band-rumped Storm-Petrel. There have also been some shocking mega-rarities in July and August, including Swinhoe's and Black-bellied Storm-Petrels, and Cape Verde Shearwater. While it is true that vagrants such as those are few and far between, the only way to ever see them in the Western North Atlantic is to get out on a trip, and Cape Hatteras is the closest point to the action. Brian Patteson Hatteras, NC brian AT patteson.com www.seabirding.com/ ------------------------------------ Subject: Re: naturalist's color guide From: Andy Paterson <andy.birds AT gmail.com> Date: Fri, 22 Jul 2011 10:57:08 +0200 I think not, sorry. In any case, in the pelagic realm the Kodak scale or similar would be much more adequate, with perhaps the browns and grey-browns. Further, there is always the problem of indvividual perception of colours to take in to account and the feasibility of lugging such a time around in the field. Regards Andy Paterson Torremolinos, España * * On 21 July 2011 23:49, Ian Paulsen wrote: > ** > > > HI ALL: > I've been talking with a publisher about the marketable of doing a NEW > naturalist's color guide like Ridgway's (1912) and Smithe's (1974-1981) > guides. If you're not familiar with these guides, a sample page from > Smithe's guide can be found here: > > > http://birdbookerreport.blogspot.com/p/sample-page-from-smithes-naturalists_21.html > > Would you be interested in such a guide? > > sincerely > -- > > Ian Paulsen > Bainbridge Island, WA, USA > Visit my BIRDBOOKER REPORT blog here: > http://birdbookerreport.blogspot.com/ > > -- Andy Torremolinos, España * ***** ** http://birding-the-costa.blogspot.com* NEW 01/07:* ***GUADALHORCE* http://guiri-pajarero-suelto.blogspot.com *NUEVO 01/07: GUADALHORCE * [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Subject: Re: Deep sea Pelagics off Lima, Peru suspended. From: jmarcos AT seo.org Date: 22 Jul 2011 10:34:58 +0200 Seré fora de l'oficina fins el 24 d'agost Estaré fuera de la oficina hasta el 24 de agosto I'll be out of office till August 24th ------------------------------------ Subject: Re: naturalist's color guide From: jmarcos AT seo.org Date: 21 Jul 2011 23:47:23 +0200 Seré fora de l'oficina fins el 24 d'agost Estaré fuera de la oficina hasta el 24 de agosto I'll be out of office till August 24th ------------------------------------ Subject: Re: Seabird adventures from the South seas From: jmarcos AT seo.org Date: 21 Jul 2011 19:48:39 +0200 Seré fora de l'oficina fins el 24 d'agost Estaré fuera de la oficina hasta el 24 de agosto I'll be out of office till August 24th ------------------------------------ Subject: Re: Re: Hand Feeding Birds in My Locality From: jmarcos AT seo.org Date: 19 Jul 2011 23:15:17 +0200 Seré fora de l'oficina fins el 24 d'agost Estaré fuera de la oficina hasta el 24 de agosto I'll be out of office till August 24th ------------------------------------ Subject: Re: Hand Feeding Birds in My Locality From: "John Hansen" <majorhart AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Tue, 19 Jul 2011 15:55:55 -0500 This is true and this list is reserved for Pelagics only. Would the person that posted this take it to my birdworld_international AT yahoogroups.com (14 members) or birdworld AT yahoogroups.com. (110 members) Thanks John Hansen -list owner ----- Original Message ----- From: Andy Paterson To: pelagics AT yahoogroups.com Sent: Tuesday, July 19, 2011 3:29 PM Subject: Re: [pelagics] Hand Feeding Birds in My Locality These photos may well have been taken in southern Spain or northern Morocco from the species variety. There is no way that any of these have been feeding from the hand and they have all obviously been mist-netted. Moderator, this person has no place in this group as none of these are pelagic spp. Regards, Andy Paterson Torremolinos, España * ***** ** http://birding-the-costa.blogspot.com* NEW 01/07:* ***GUADALHORCE* http://guiri-pajarero-suelto.blogspot.com *NUEVO 01/07: GUADALHORCE * [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Subject: Re: Re: Hand Feeding Birds in My Locality From: jmarcos AT seo.org Date: 19 Jul 2011 22:30:04 +0200 Seré fora de l'oficina fins el 24 d'agost Estaré fuera de la oficina hasta el 24 de agosto I'll be out of office till August 24th ------------------------------------ Subject: Re: Hand Feeding Birds in My Locality From: Andy Paterson <andy.birds AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 19 Jul 2011 22:29:42 +0200 These photos may well have been taken in southern Spain or northern Morocco from the species variety. There is no way that any of these have been feeding from the hand and they have all obviously been mist-netted. Moderator, this person has no place in this group as none of these are pelagic spp. Regards, Andy Paterson Torremolinos, España * ***** ** http://birding-the-costa.blogspot.com* NEW 01/07:* ***GUADALHORCE* http://guiri-pajarero-suelto.blogspot.com *NUEVO 01/07: GUADALHORCE * [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Subject: Re: Hand Feeding Birds in My Locality From: jmarcos AT seo.org Date: 19 Jul 2011 21:58:29 +0200 Seré fora de l'oficina fins el 24 d'agost Estaré fuera de la oficina hasta el 24 de agosto I'll be out of office till August 24th ------------------------------------ Subject: Hand Feeding Birds in My Locality From: Chelsie Chelsie liz mesina <chelsiechelsielizmesina AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 19 Jul 2011 12:58:06 -0700 (PDT) Me, my father and others went on this tour near our locality and fed the birds in our locality. The tour was great and for someone who enjoys the company of birds - i really enjoyed it. i truly hope that you all will love this compilation of pictures. http://hand-feeding-birds.notlong.com PS:  Since it's my first post to the group-members.......so feedback would be highly helpful.....give me ideas ........anything. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Subject: The Ultimate North America Live-Aboard Seabirding Pelagic Trip From: "thunefeld" <thunefeld AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 11 Jul 2011 16:54:11 -0000 Greetings, The Channel Islands and Deep Water Pelagic Week aboard North America's most luxurious birding live-aboard, SEARCHER, find rarities and mega-rarities on nearly every trip. The diverse array of birds seen from SEARCHER is a result of a diverse itinerary - from near-shore to inter-islands to the edge of the Continental Shelf. September SEARCHER trips from 2003-2010 have amassed an amazing list of species: Black-footed Albatross, Northern Fulmar, Murphy's Petrel, Cook's Petrel, Hawaiian Petrel, Flesh-footed Shearwater, Buller's Shearwater, Pink-Footed Shearwater, Sooty Shearwater, Black-vented Shearwater, Least Storm-Petrel, Leach's Storm-Petrel, Ashy Storm-Petrel, Black Storm-Petrel, Red-billed Tropicbird, Red-necked Phalarope, Red Phalarope, South Polar Skua, Pomarine Jaeger, Parasitic Jaeger, Long-tailed Jaeger, Sabine's Gull, Arctic Tern, Pigeon Guillemot, Common Murre, Xantus's Murrelet, Craveri's Murrelet, Cassin's Auklet, Rhinoceros Auklet. Both the bird life and marine mammal sightings are exceptional on this annual pelagic. 5 species of whales and 5 species of dolphin would not be considered unusual during this Labor Day week excursion. Add to that flying fish, mola mola, an assortment of shark and a little deep sea fishing, and the trip is fun for everyone, especially a birding enthusiast and a spouse. The SEARCHER pelagic consists of 4 solid days at sea, departing on Labor Day morning, returning the following Friday morning at dawn. There is nothing quite like being on such a luxurious craft with like-minded people, all sharing an interest in the wonders of life over the ocean. Many birders come from Europe or the east coast of the U.S. to participate in these trips, and many of them do additional birding in SoCal while they're out here. This year SEARCHER has teamed up with the Buena Vista Audubon Society to sponsor a field trip to the Salton Sea led by Todd McGrath on Saturday September 4. This trip is limited exclusively to Searcher registrants. SEARCHER departs San Diego on Labor Day morning. We spend the day birding our way up San Diego's famous Nine Mile bank and other underwater banks, ridges and canyons. The morning of our second day at sea finds us in the northern Channel Islands. From there we travel north and west to the deeper waters, west past Point Conception to Arguello Canyon and perhaps the Rodriguez Dome. The third day finds us in two-mile deep waters where we explore the known pterodroma corridors beyond the San Juan Seamount and other seamounts at and beyond the edge of the Continental Shelf. Please join us for a week of fun and adventure while being pampered by the crew of SEARCHER. Details of the SEARCHER Labor Day Week Live-aboard Pelagic: http://socalbirding.com/upcomingtrips/searchersep592011.html The SEARCHER trip logs contain more detailed information of past trip sightings: http://www.bajawhale.com/wildlife-tours/pelagic-birding-tours The Status & Distribution of SoCal Pelagic Birds can be viewed at: http://socalbirding.com/seabirdreference.html Details of the Salton Sea Day Trip: http://socalbirding.com/upcomingtrips/saltonseasep42011.html Peace on earth. W. Terry Hunefeld, Encinitas Life is short. Seabird often. In memory of Luke Cole and Mike San Miguel "Come on out with us to see what's out there." Southern California Seabirding Trips by: Buena Vista Audubon Society http://www.SoCalBirding.com Los Coronados Islands & Nine Mile Bank all the way to the edge of the Continental Shelf Our SoCal Pelagic "e-Newsletters" http://www.facebook.com/SoCalPelagics and http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SoCalBirding A Few Of Our Seabird & Marine Mammal Adventures: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eC4qRYFdjXo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABXQwF2vD2w http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8UdCYAOax0 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyb8fBCsP0s ------------------------------------ Subject: MD birding history - 1973 announcement of first winter pelagic trip From: Phil Davis <pdavis AT ix.netcom.com> Date: Wed, 06 Jul 2011 11:58:33 -0400 MOS / Pelagics listservers: As a part of my historical rarities documentation canvass, I sometimes run across tidbits of MD/DC birding history. At the link, below, I have posted a copy of the flier that announced Maryland's first winter pelagic trip (1973). Check out the price of the trip. http://mddcrc-blog.posterous.com/birding-history-announcement-of-mds-first-win (the apparent truncation is OK) Enjoy! Phil =================================================== Phil Davis, Secretary MD/DC Records Committee 2549 Vale Court Davidsonville, Maryland 21035 USA 301-261-0184 mailto:PDavis AT ix.netcom.com MD/DCRC Web site: http://www.MDBirds.org/mddcrc/rcindex.html =================================================== ------------------------------------ Subject: 48-Hour California Pelagic for petrels, tropicbirds, murrelets From: "thunefeld" <thunefeld AT gmail.com> Date: Sun, 03 Jul 2011 13:34:40 -0000 Greetings Join us this August on our 48-hour live-aboard pelagic trip aboard Grande as we search for Red-billed Tropicbirds, Craveri's Murrelet, Cook's and Hawaiian Petrels, 3 subspecies of Leach's Storm-Petrels and Mexican Exotics like Wedge-tailed Shearwater and Wedge-rumped Storm-Petrel. Last year we saw (in U.S. waters) Brown Boobies, Black-footed Albatrosses, Skuas, Red-billed Tropicbirds, Pomarine, Parasitic and Long-tailed Jaegers, Buller's Shearwaters, Sabine's Gulls, Arctic Terns, 4 species of Storm-Petrels (Black, Least, Ashy and Leach's), Blue Whales, Pacific White-sided Dolphin, Fin and Baird's Beaked Whales, Guadalupe Fur Seals and 4 pods of seldom-seen-this-well Baird's Beaked Whales. This trip sold out in 2009 and 2010. This year's trip is a "for sure go" with only ten remaining spots available. We depart Monday morning August 15 and return at dawn Wednesday morning August 17 in time to catch a plane out or get to work by 9 a.m. Details on the trip and the status of the above named species can be found at: http://socalbirding.com/upcomingtrips/sandiegoaug151648hr.html W. Terry Hunefeld, Encinitas "Come on out with us to see what's out there." Southern California Seabirding Trips by: Buena Vista Audubon Society http://www.SoCalBirding.com Los Coronados Islands & Nine Mile Bank all the way to the edge of the Continental Shelf Our SoCal Pelagic "e-Newsletters" http://www.facebook.com/SoCalPelagics and http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SoCalBirding A Few Of Our Seabird & Marine Mammal Adventures: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eC4qRYFdjXo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABXQwF2vD2w http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8UdCYAOax0 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyb8fBCsP0s ------------------------------------ Subject: Recent and Upcoming Pelagic Trips from NC, USA From: "J. BRIAN PATTESON" <patteson1 AT embarqmail.com> Date: Mon, 20 Jun 2011 14:18:06 -0400 Dear Seabirders, I'll try to keep this brief, but I wanted to get the word out to interested parties. If you do not care to hear about these trips, let us know and we can take care of that. First, we need a few more people if we are going to run a pelagic trip this Saturday, June 25. That is surprising to me, as our trips on June 11 and 12 were pretty well attended, and we had good birding, including three White-tailed Tropicbirds seen together on June 12. So far, we have seen more White-tailed Tropicbirds than ever before in spring- five trips so far. I don't know if it will hold up for the summer, but we can hope. To me, it's the best sign we have had since the mid 90's for White-tails. Let us know ASAP if you would like to come birding offshore this Saturday. The Hatteras trips are $160/person this year. We probably should have added on a fuel surcharge, but we did not. If you haven't kept up with our website lately, please check it out. Kate Sutherland has done a great job in posting regular updates about what we have seen this spring (daily for the spring blitz of 17 trips over 18 days- May 20 to June 6.) She has also posted all of the trip lists for those dates, as well as those for June 11 and 12, and has been working through our backlog of past season summer trip lists. Our website is at www.seabirding.com/ There is also some other new stuff out there from our trips that you might not have seen, like our You Tube channel- http://www.youtube.com/user/gadflypetrel , where we have both new and old footage. There you will find a recent tropicbird and some Risso's Dolphins from June 12 as well as an incredible showing of Pomarine Jaegers from May 2002. We are also now on Twitter- http://www.twitter.com/#!/Seabirding#!/Seabirding Summer is still a good time for pelagic birding off Cape Hatteras and is better than spring for several species. With just a few exceptions (Sooty Shearwater and Arctic Tern), pretty much everything that we see or have seen in spring has occurred several times, if not regularly, in summer. European Storm-Petrel is probably the only rarity that we have yet to encounter past early June. Last year we had a pretty good run of Trindade Petrels in mid summer. This is a species which has probably been moving by hundreds of miles to the east this spring, but when conditions are right during the summer, it can be somewhat regular, albeit very rare. All of our summer trip dates can be found on our website, but if you have a group and would like to arrange a trip during a weekday or on another weekend, let us know. We do offer private charters on our boat, and these are only slightly more than a regular trip if you can round up eight or more people. We are also in the process of making our smaller commercial boat into a part time charter boat, and when she is ready (hopefully this summer) we will have another option for smaller groups (up to six passengers.) In addition to the standard offering of pelagic trips from Hatteras this July and August, we are hoping to run a few from Wanchese during late August. On those trips we would explore the waters east and southeast of Oregon Inlet, where the water is typically a bit cooler than it is off Hatteras Inlet and where there is a better chance for seeing White-faced Storm-Petrels. Going up there is an expensive undertaking for us, however, so we need to know a few weeks ahead of time that we have enough registrations to justify renting a slip and making the longer runs offshore. I hope that you can join us on a pelagic trip sometime soon, but if not, please pass this information along to someone else who might want to. Summer is a great time to go offshore for either the first time or the 50th time. Brian Patteson Hatteras, NC brian AT patteson.com www.seabirding.com/ ------------------------------------ Subject: Vancouver Island Pelagic Trip 18th Sept From: "Paul" <tuff-puffin AT shaw.ca> Date: Fri, 17 Jun 2011 03:48:30 -0000 Hello, WildResearch, a Vancouver base non-profit, is pleased to be offering a pelagic birding trip departing from Ucluelet on the Sunday the 18th September 2011. The ship we will be using is the M.V. Frances Barkley, a 39m (128ft), 300 ton coastal freighter. The cost per person is $200 for WildResearch members. For details visit: www.wildresearch.ca Thanks, Paul Levesque Vancouver BC ------------------------------------ Subject: Re: Sneak Peek into Condor Express, Searcher and Grande From: "John Hansen" <majorhart AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Sun, 12 Jun 2011 09:19:26 -0500 That was a very interesting ride into the world of pelagics - I kept it and will watch it again. Thanks John Hansen ----- Original Message ----- From: thunefeld To: pelagics AT yahoogroups.com Sent: Saturday, June 11, 2011 7:04 PM Subject: [pelagics] Sneak Peek into Condor Express, Searcher and Grande If you've been wondering what it's like on a pelagic trip from SoCal, you can get a "sneak peek" inside and onboard our three primary vessels: SEARCHER, GRANDE, and CONDOR EXPRESS. http://tinyurl.com/pelagics-sneak-peek Come on out and ride along with us in real life or virtually! It's loads of fun and we never know "for-sure" what to expect out there. Every trip begins as a blank canvas. By the time we return to the harbor, a rich tapestry of unique sights, sounds and experiences has been woven - and it's always a surprise. Summer and fall are exciting months for pelagic birding in Southern California with the arrival of various species like tropicbirds and storm-petrels and the late-summer and fall migration of tubenoses. There will be at least one trip a month from San Diego or Santa Barbara into the mysterious deep through October. Debi Shearwater's trips from central California also kick into gear August - October. The entire SoCal pelagic birding trip schedule with details, trip reports, and video montages can be found at www.socalbirding.com. Debi Shearwater's schedule is at www.shearwaterjourneys.com/ Come on out with us to see what's out there.. W. Terry Hunefeld, Encinitas Life is short. Seabird often. In memory of Luke Cole and Mike San Miguel Southern California Seabirding Trips by: Buena Vista Audubon Society http://www.SoCalBirding.com Los Coronados Islands & Nine Mile Bank all the way to the edge of the Continental Shelf A Few Of Our Seabird & Marine Mammal Adventures: http://www.youtube..com/watch?v=eC4qRYFdjXo http://www.youtube..com/watch?v=ABXQwF2vD2w http://www.youtube..com/watch?v=P8UdCYAOax0 http://www.youtube..com/watch?v=jyb8fBCsP0s ======= Email scanned by PC Tools - No viruses or spyware found. (Email Guard: 7.0.0.26, Virus/Spyware Database: 6.17700) http://www.pctools.com ======= ======= Email scanned by PC Tools - No viruses or spyware found. (Email Guard: 7.0.0.26, Virus/Spyware Database: 6.17700) http://www.pctools.com/ ======= [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pelagics/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pelagics/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: pelagics-digest AT yahoogroups.com pelagics-fullfeatured AT yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: pelagics-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ Subject: Sneak Peek into Condor Express, Searcher and Grande From: "thunefeld" <thunefeld AT gmail.com> Date: Sun, 12 Jun 2011 00:04:40 -0000 If you've been wondering what it's like on a pelagic trip from SoCal, you can get a "sneak peek" inside and onboard our three primary vessels: SEARCHER, GRANDE, and CONDOR EXPRESS. http://tinyurl.com/pelagics-sneak-peek Come on out and ride along with us in real life or virtually! It's loads of fun and we never know "for-sure" what to expect out there. Every trip begins as a blank canvas. By the time we return to the harbor, a rich tapestry of unique sights, sounds and experiences has been woven – and it's always a surprise. Summer and fall are exciting months for pelagic birding in Southern California with the arrival of various species like tropicbirds and storm-petrels and the late-summer and fall migration of tubenoses. There will be at least one trip a month from San Diego or Santa Barbara into the mysterious deep through October. Debi Shearwater's trips from central California also kick into gear August – October. The entire SoCal pelagic birding trip schedule with details, trip reports, and video montages can be found at www.socalbirding.com. Debi Shearwater's schedule is at www.shearwaterjourneys.com/ Come on out with us to see what's out there…. W. Terry Hunefeld, Encinitas Life is short. Seabird often. In memory of Luke Cole and Mike San Miguel Southern California Seabirding Trips by: Buena Vista Audubon Society http://www.SoCalBirding.com Los Coronados Islands & Nine Mile Bank all the way to the edge of the Continental Shelf A Few Of Our Seabird & Marine Mammal Adventures: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eC4qRYFdjXo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABXQwF2vD2w http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8UdCYAOax0 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyb8fBCsP0s ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pelagics/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pelagics/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: pelagics-digest AT yahoogroups.com pelagics-fullfeatured AT yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: pelagics-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ Subject: Memorial Day Weekend 2011 SoCal Pelagic Trip Report From: "thunefeld" <thunefeld AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 09 Jun 2011 22:30:55 -0000 Greetings North America's most luxurious live-aboard birding vessel – SEARCHER – sailed its annual Memorial Day weekend three-day seabird and whale pelagic from San Diego. The trip report is now complete and includes photos, video and details on the albatrosses and boobies seen in U.S. waters and the South Polar Skua in Mexican waters: http://socaltripreports.com/?p=255 SEARCHER sails again for ABA rarities on its annual fall migration Labor Day week trip, departing Labor Day, September 5 and returning Friday morning September 9. Last year's trip recorded Flesh-footed Shearwater, 4 Red-billed Tropicbirds, Cook's Petrel, South Polar Skua, Buller's Shearwater, 113 Long-tailed Jaegers, Least Storm-Petrels and dozens of other species. Details, videos of past trips and trip reports with species list links are at: http://socalbirding.com/upcomingtrips/searchersep592011.html where you can read up on past hard-to-find pterodroma, murrelet and storm-petrel sightings enjoyed on this one-of-a-kind annual deep-water pelagic. There are ten spots available left on this trip. The day before SEARCHER sails on Monday, Buena Vista Audubon has scheduled a field trip to the SALTON SEA on Sunday led by Todd McGrath exclusively for Labor Day SEARCHER participants. Expected SoCal specialties: Yellow-footed Gull (found nowhere else in the U.S.), Stilt Sandpiper, Burrowing Owl, Black Tern, Common Tern, Abert's Towhee, Gambel's Quail, Wilson's Phalarope, Costa's Hummingbird and Ladderback Woodpecker. Complete details of the Salton Sea field trip: http://socalbirding.com/upcomingtrips/saltonseasep42011.html There are six spots available left on this trip. Peace on earth. W. Terry Hunefeld, Encinitas Life is short. Seabird often. In memory of Luke Cole and Mike San Miguel "Come on out with us to see what's out there." Southern California Seabirding Trips by: Buena Vista Audubon Society http://www.SoCalBirding.com Los Coronados Islands & Nine Mile Bank all the way to the edge of the Continental Shelf A Few Of Our Seabird & Marine Mammal Adventures: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eC4qRYFdjXo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABXQwF2vD2w http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8UdCYAOax0 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyb8fBCsP0s ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pelagics/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pelagics/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: pelagics-digest AT yahoogroups.com pelagics-fullfeatured AT yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: pelagics-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ Subject: Kerguelen Is Amsterdam Is & Heard Is seabird trip VACANCY From: richard baxter <randrbaxter AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 5 Jun 2011 23:51:25 -0700 (PDT) Hello all,               In Nov/Dec this year a group of Australian seabirders will be visiting Kerguelen Island, Heard Island and probably Amsterdam Island in the Indian Ocean Sub-Antarctic.  The trip is five weeks duration, starting in Mauritius and finishing in Perth, Australia.  All on board will be pelagic seabirders and there are two vacancies. The cost of the trip is very reasonable compared to other recent and/or planned trips to the area.  Cost for 5 weeks...$15,000 AUS.   A great chance to slow travel the sub-antarctic and see/photograph some of the world's rarest seabirds close up at eye level, rather than from on top of an expedition ship.    Possible seabirds include: Round Island Petrel (Trindade Petrel), Mascarene Petrel, Barau’s Petrel, King Penguin, Gentoo Penguin, Macaroni Penguin, Rockhopper Penguin, Chinstrap Penguin, Adelie Penguin, Emperor Penguin, Wandering Albatross, Southern Royal Albatross, Black-browed Albatross, Yellow-nosed Albatross, Grey-headed Albatross, Light-mantled Sooty Albatross, Sooty Albatross, Southern Giant Petrel , Northern Giant Petrel, Southern Fulmar, Antarctic Petrel, Snow Petrel, Cape Petrel, White-headed Petrel, Great-winged Petrel, Kerguelen Petrel, Soft-plumaged Petrel, Barau’s Petrel, Blue Petrel, Grey Petrel, White-chinned Petrel, Sooty and Short-tailed Shearwater, Antarctic Prion, Slender-billed Prion, Broad-billed Prion, Fulmar Prion, Wilson’s Storm Petrel, Grey-backed Storm Petrel, Black-bellied Storm Petrel, White-bellied Storm Petrel, Common Diving Petrel, South Georgian Diving Petrel. Other birds Heard Island Sheathbill, Kelp Gull, Brown Skua, South Polar Skua, Antarctic Tern, Arctic Tern, Kerguelen Tern, Heard Island Cormorant. If you would like to know more or book one of the two remaining spots please let me know or check out the website at: www.heardisland.com.au     Cheers Richard Baxter -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Seabird News" group. To post to this group, send email to seabird-news AT googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to seabird-news+unsubscribe AT googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/seabird-news?hl=en. Subject: Kerguelen Is Amsterdam Is & Heard Is seabird trip VACANCY From: richard baxter <randrbaxter AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 5 Jun 2011 23:51:25 -0700 (PDT) Hello all,               In Nov/Dec this year a group of Australian seabirders will be visiting Kerguelen Island, Heard Island and probably Amsterdam Island in the Indian Ocean Sub-Antarctic.  The trip is five weeks duration, starting in Mauritius and finishing in Perth, Australia.  All on board will be pelagic seabirders and there are two vacancies. The cost of the trip is very reasonable compared to other recent and/or planned trips to the area.  Cost for 5 weeks...$15,000 AUS.   A great chance to slow travel the sub-antarctic and see/photograph some of the world's rarest seabirds close up at eye level, rather than from on top of an expedition ship.    Possible seabirds include: Round Island Petrel (Trindade Petrel), Mascarene Petrel, Barau’s Petrel, King Penguin, Gentoo Penguin, Macaroni Penguin, Rockhopper Penguin, Chinstrap Penguin, Adelie Penguin, Emperor Penguin, Wandering Albatross, Southern Royal Albatross, Black-browed Albatross, Yellow-nosed Albatross, Grey-headed Albatross, Light-mantled Sooty Albatross, Sooty Albatross, Southern Giant Petrel , Northern Giant Petrel, Southern Fulmar, Antarctic Petrel, Snow Petrel, Cape Petrel, White-headed Petrel, Great-winged Petrel, Kerguelen Petrel, Soft-plumaged Petrel, Barau’s Petrel, Blue Petrel, Grey Petrel, White-chinned Petrel, Sooty and Short-tailed Shearwater, Antarctic Prion, Slender-billed Prion, Broad-billed Prion, Fulmar Prion, Wilson’s Storm Petrel, Grey-backed Storm Petrel, Black-bellied Storm Petrel, White-bellied Storm Petrel, Common Diving Petrel, South Georgian Diving Petrel. Other birds Heard Island Sheathbill, Kelp Gull, Brown Skua, South Polar Skua, Antarctic Tern, Arctic Tern, Kerguelen Tern, Heard Island Cormorant. If you would like to know more or book one of the two remaining spots please let me know or check out the website at: www.heardisland.com.au     Cheers Richard Baxter [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pelagics/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pelagics/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: pelagics-digest AT yahoogroups.com pelagics-fullfeatured AT yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: pelagics-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ Subject: South Pacific ocean-voyaging seabird opportunities 2012 From: "Kiwi Wildlife " <kwtl AT xtra.co.nz> Date: Mon, 23 May 2011 13:14:39 +1200 Hi all, The following voyages are being offered to pelagic seabird enthusiasts aboard NZ-based vessels traveling between New Zealand and Mangareva (French Polynesia)/Pitcairn; also between Chile and French Polynesia in May 2012. NZ > Pitcairn > Mangareva dates are12 Feb, 12 May, 12 August, 4 November - this is a 19-day voyage (with two days at Pitcairn); there will be return voyages on 1 March, 31 May, 30 August and 22 November. On-board cost aboard MV Claymore will be US$130 per day will all meals, laundry included. Flight costs are not included (ie. to/ from Tahiti and Papeete to Mangareva; and to/ from NZ). Steve Wood and I did the Mangareva/NZ run in Sept 2007via the very remote Morotiri (southeast French Polynesia) en route - memorable. The Chile to French Polynesia voyage will be in late May aboard RV Braveheart departing Castro (Chiloe Island) Southern Chile. The vessel will be re-locating after an expedition to South Georgia. Exact route, costs and final dates yet be finalized. Some very intriguing sea-birding in the vicinity of Puerto Montt and up the Humboldt Current before venturing westward to the Pitcairn Islands and southeast French Polynesia. My recommendation is that this type of voyaging would be best undertaken by 2 or more people. Anyone interested - please contact me for more details. Make your seabird observations count! Chris Chris Gaskin Pterodroma Pelagics P. O. Box 686, Warkworth, 0941, NEW ZEALAND Ph +64 (0)9 4226868 Mob +64 (0)21 668811 Email chris.gaskin AT xtra.co.nz [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pelagics/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pelagics/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: pelagics-digest AT yahoogroups.com pelagics-fullfeatured AT yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: pelagics-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ Subject: South Polar Skua in Madeira, Portugal From: Hugo Romano <hugoromano AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 2 Jun 2011 14:41:54 +0100 The highlight of our third pelagic of 2011 was a South Polar Skua Stercorarius maccormicki. Seen last Monday, May 30, 2011 off Madeira Island. http://www.madeirabirds.com/south_polar_skua_madeira_pelagic_2011 For the other two trip reports visit Madeira Birds website. http://www.madeirabirds.com/ Zino's Petrel Expeditions for 2011 are proceeding as scheduled and few places are still available. http://www.ultimatepelagics.com More news will come as we run the pelagics of 2011. Hugo Romano -- email: info AT madeirabirds.com sites: www.madeirabirds.com / www.madeirawindbirds.com ph: +351-917777441 / +351-291098007 twitter: AT windbirds AT oceanodroma facebook: http://facebook.com/windbirds ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pelagics/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pelagics/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: pelagics-digest AT yahoogroups.com pelagics-fullfeatured AT yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: pelagics-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ Subject: 14 May 2011 San Diego Pelagic Trip Report FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATER From: "thunefeld" <thunefeld AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 26 May 2011 19:33:51 -0000 Greetings The Trip Report, official Trip List and Trip Video of the San Diego County Spring Migration 14 May 2011 Buena Vista Audubon Society Pelagic Trip is complete. http://socaltripreports.com/?p=220 Thanks to BJ Stacey and Jimmy McMorran for sharing their photos of the FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATER. Thanks to BJ for the only Skua photo and to BJ, Todd McGrath and Bruno Enriquez Struck for the photos of the covey of Black-footed Albies, rafts of Black Storm-Petrels, and close-ups of Sabine's Gulls, Pom Jaegers and Xantus's Murrelets. The complete report is posted at: http://socaltripreports.com/?p=220 THE HUNT IS ON. They're out there. Join us this year on our trips to see Red-billed Tropicbirds, Brown Boobies, Laysan & BF Albies, Cook's and Murphy's Petrels, Buller's & Short-tailed & Manx Shearwaters, Craveri's & Xantus's Murrelets, Ashy & Least & Black & Leach's Storm-Petrels, Sabine's Gulls, Arctic Terns and Blue Whales. http://socalbirding.com/upcomingtrips.html Come along with us as we hunt SoCal waters for puffins, Wedge-rumped Storm-Petrels, "Ainley's Storm-Petrels", Short-tailed Albies, Blue-footed & Masked & Nacza Boobies. The SoCal Audubon Societies have trips from Southern California nearly every month of the year. Our entire schedule can be found at: http://socalbirding.com/upcomingtrips.html W. Terry Hunefeld, Encinitas Life is short. Seabird often. In memory of Luke Cole and Mike San Miguel "Come on out with us to see what's out there." Southern California Seabirding Trips by: Buena Vista Audubon Society http://www.SoCalBirding.com Los Coronados Islands & Nine Mile Bank all the way to the edge of the Continental Shelf A Few Of Our Seabird & Marine Mammal Adventures: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eC4qRYFdjXo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABXQwF2vD2w http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8UdCYAOax0 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyb8fBCsP0s ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pelagics/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pelagics/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: pelagics-digest AT yahoogroups.com pelagics-fullfeatured AT yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: pelagics-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ Subject: San Diego Pelagic AND the SALTON SEA -- Sept 4-9, 2011 From: "thunefeld" <thunefeld AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 23 Apr 2011 04:22:52 -0000 Greetings, SEARCHER 5-Day Live-Aboard Deep-Water Pelagic Birding From San Diego to the Continental Shelf Edge 5 Days On The Pacific Ocean Monday September 5 to Friday September 9, 2010 September SEARCHER trips from 2003-2009 have amassed an amazing list of species seen: Black-footed Albatross, Northern Fulmar, Murphy's Petrel, Cook's Petrel, Hawaiian Petrel, Flesh-footed Shearwater, Buller's Shearwater, Pink-Footed Shearwater, Sooty Shearwater, Black-vented Shearwater, Least Storm-Petrel, Leach's Storm-Petrel, Ashy Storm-Petrel, Black Storm-Petrel, Red-billed Tropicbird, Red-necked Phalarope, Red Phalarope, South Polar Skua, Pomarine Jaeger, Parasitic Jaeger, Long-tailed Jaeger, Sabine's Gull, Arctic Tern, Pigeon Guillemot, Common Murre, Xantus's Murrelet, Craveri's Murrelet, Cassin's Auklet, Rhinoceros Auklet. The deep water expeditions on Searcher find rarities and mega-rarities in deep water along the edge of the continental shelf on nearly every trip. Review the trip logs. The diverse array of birds seen from Searcher is a result of a diverse itinerary - from near-shore to inter-islands to the edge of the Continental Shelf. SPECIAL PROGRAM: As many participants come from out of state (and around the world) to sail SEARCHER, this year guests signed up for the SEARCHER Labor Day Week 5-day Pelagic Trip may participate in a special field trip to the Salton Sea led by Todd McGrath and sponsored by the Buena Vista Audubon Society. Learn more about the Sept 5-9 DEEP WATER PELAGIC TRIP: http://www.socalbirding.com/upcomingtrips/searchersep592011.html Learn more about the Sept 4 trip to the SALTON SEA: http://www.socalbirding.com/upcomingtrips/saltonseasep42011.html W. Terry Hunefeld, Encinitas Life is short. Seabird often. In memory of Luke Cole and Mike San Miguel "Come on out with us to see what's out there." Southern California Seabirding Trips by: Buena Vista Audubon Society http://www.SoCalBirding.com Los Coronados Islands & Nine Mile Bank all the way to the edge of the Continental Shelf http://socaltripreports.com/ ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pelagics/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pelagics/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: pelagics-digest AT yahoogroups.com pelagics-fullfeatured AT yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: pelagics-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ Subject: Where is the group moderator? From: Debra Shearwater <debi AT shearwaterjourneys.com> Date: Fri, 22 Apr 2011 16:10:59 -0700 To the Pelagic group, Will the moderator please step in and deal with the spam that is being posted on this Yahoo Group? Thank you, Debi Shearwater Debra Shearwater Shearwater Journeys, Inc. PO Box 190 Hollister, CA 95024 831.637.8527 debi AT shearwaterjourneys.com www.shearwaterjourneys.com www.shearwaterjourneys.blogspot.com SVALBARD: High Arctic Seabirds & Polar Bears, Walrus: 8-18 July & 18-28 July, 2012 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pelagics/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pelagics/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: pelagics-digest AT yahoogroups.com pelagics-fullfeatured AT yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: pelagics-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ Subject: Birds - The ways of Nature From: Birds forced to fight <pancheesilvia AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 22 Apr 2011 14:17:31 -0700 (PDT) Birds have always been a food of delight for all. Let it be chicken or any other bird. Can you imagine how much we spend in KFC's and other substitutes. Most birds are also killed for pleasure or hunting purposes. Yet a vast majority of birds find themselves prey to other animals like cats. I was at my friends place yesterday that i saw a cat eating up this sparrow. But for me the most important thing to learn was that for the sake of stomach a living being can do many things. I saw the cat struggling hard for the kill. Hard work paid off. http://tiny.cc/8h38h [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pelagics/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pelagics/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: pelagics-digest AT yahoogroups.com pelagics-fullfeatured AT yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: pelagics-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ Subject: Zino's Petrels: 2011 1st Update From: Hugo Romano <hugoromano AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 21 Apr 2011 18:37:06 +0100 Zino's Petrels Pterodroma madeira are back to Madeira Island, Portugal after the big fires of August 2011. The first sightings at sea this year was on a research pelagic, April 18. http://www.madeirabirds.com/zinos_petrel_pterodroma_madeira_2011 As for land night observation was on a ringing activity, March 30. http://freira.org/report-on-a-night-visit-to-pico-do-areeiro-on All Zino's Petrel Expeditions for 2011 will proceed as scheduled and some places are still available. http://www.ultimatepelagics.com In a month I shall post another update based on the pelagics sightings. Hugo Romano -- email: info AT madeirabirds.com sites: www.madeirabirds.com / www.madeirawindbirds.com ph: +351-917777441 / +351-291098007 twitter: AT windbirds AT oceanodroma facebook: http://facebook.com/windbirds ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pelagics/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pelagics/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: pelagics-digest AT yahoogroups.com pelagics-fullfeatured AT yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: pelagics-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ Subject: Approved From: "majorhart2000" <majorhart2000 AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 16 Apr 2011 22:12:28 -0000 I approved all three of our new members. Welcome It is important to know that this list is restricted to Ocean Birding and pelagic trips - and might not be suitable for inland or backyard birding. For those who want a more rounded experience - Join my birdworld-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com Thanks ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pelagics/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pelagics/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: pelagics-digest AT yahoogroups.com pelagics-fullfeatured AT yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: pelagics-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ Subject: May Pelagic Trips To Hunt Rarities in So Cal Waters From: "thunefeld" <thunefeld AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 08 Apr 2011 17:34:48 -0000 Greetings, Looking for adventure? Want to add a few more hard-to-find species? How about some close encounters with Blue and Fin Whales? You're in luck – two pelagic trips departing from San Diego in May promise some hard-to-find birds as migration brings them into or close to San Diego and Los Angeles waters. Added bonus: A plethora of big marine mammals: Blue, Fin, Sei and Humpback Whales. The first trip is SAT MAY 14 - a full day trip aboard Grande to the Nine and Thirty Mile Banks to find seldom-seen-in-San-Diego birds. The next trip is Sat – Mon, MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND, May 28 – 30. Two nights and three days aboard the most luxurious pelagic seabirding vessel in the United States – SEARCHER. The Buena Vista Audubon Society MAY 14 SPRING MIGRATION SPECIAL will travel to the westernmost boundary of San Diego waters at the Thirty Mile Bank. This is an excellent trip to see an abundance of "SoCal" seabirds AND possibly add species to your San Diego or California lists. We'll be trying for San Diego Arctic Tern, South Polar Skua, albatrosses (*) and Red-billed Tropicbird in San Diego County waters. See the trip description for more details and the "long shots" we'll be hunting like tropicbirds, puffins plus the birds we expect to see like Ashy Storm-petrels, shearwaters and lots of Xantus's murrelets. Only a handful of Laysan Albies have been seen in San Diego County, and many of us would like a Laysan on our San Diego list. Black-footed Albatross is likely (though certainly not guaranteed) - we saw 3 at the Nine Mile Bank on 16 May 2009 from Grande. More details: http://www.socalbirding.com/upcomingtrips/sandiegomay142011.html The MEMORIAL DAY trip is part of Searcher's annual "WILDLIFE WEEKEND" series brings us into deeper waters for three days – dramatically multiplying the number of species we'll see. These trips focus on seabirds and marine mammals between San Diego, San Clemente Island and the Los Coronados Island. Last year on this trip we saw 6 tropicbirds, 6 skuas, 4 Laysan and 19 Black-footed Albies and an astounding 6,390 Pink-footed Shearwaters. Plus, this trip offers an outstanding opportunity to see some BIG marine animals. The video we shot last year tells the whole story. Spring is an amazing time of year to be "out there" on Searcher. More details: http://www.socalbirding.com/upcomingtrips/sandiegomay28302011.html VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hu2DPpoukuk ASHY STORM-PETRELS: May is the best month to find these elusive storm-petrels, and our best opportunity to see them is beyond the Nine Mile Bank. We'll also see Black Storm-Petrels and possibly Leach's. SKUA: These trips affords a good opportunity to find South Polar Skua on their way North from their Antarctic breeding grounds. On May 9, 2009, we saw a Skua at the Nine Mile Bank from Grande. TROPICBIRD: A long shot on May 14, likely on Memorial Day weekend. On May 9, 2009, we found a Red-billed Tropicbird just west of the Thirty Mile Bank. On 13 Feb 2010 we saw one at the Nine Mile Bank. We saw SIX last Memorial Day weekend from Searcher. MURRELETS: May is a great time of year to see lots of Xantus's Murrelets. PUFFINS: A long shot, but spring is the best time of year to pray for either puffin in SoCal. All five SoCal Tufted Puffin records since 2002 range from 27 April to 2 June. 23 of the 24 SoCal Horned Puffin records from 2007-2009 are in May and June. Come on out with us to see what's out there. W. Terry Hunefeld, Encinitas Life is short. Seabird often. In memory of Luke Cole and Mike San Miguel Southern California Seabirding Trips by: Buena Vista Audubon Society http://www.SoCalBirding.com Los Coronados Islands & Nine Mile Bank all the way to the edge of the Continental Shelf http://socaltripreports.com/ ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pelagics/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pelagics/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: pelagics-digest AT yahoogroups.com pelagics-fullfeatured AT yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: pelagics-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ Subject: Sat 29 Jan 2011 Grande: Short-tailed Shearwater. Grey, Humpback and Fin Whales From: "thunefeld" <thunefeld AT gmail.com> Date: Fri, 04 Feb 2011 00:39:36 -0000 Greetings The photos are in. The trip report is entered into eBird. The Buena Vista Audubon Society Annual Winterfest Pelagic produced 3 species of shearwaters (including Short-tailed). Cool stuff included VERY close encounters with 8 Fin Whales (see photos), Bottlenose Dolphin doing acrobatics – flipping and spinning out of the water and 18 migrating Grey Whales. But the highlight of a day full of spectacular scenes was a heart-pumping show by a Peregrine Falcon using Grande as a "blind" or distraction while making multiple high-speed stoops on unsuspecting Cassin's Auklets, missing, circling directly over and around Grande then stooping again until after a dozen or so tries it came up with a plump auklet and carried it away with gulls in hot pursuit hoping to force a dropped auklet. Matt Sadowski shot an awesome frame-by-frame sequence of the falcon catching up to, then flying away with, the auklet, pursued by raucous gulls. Photos: http://socaltripreports.com/ Video: http://socaltripreports.com/ Trip List: http://socaltripreports.com/ The next SoCal Pelagic is sponsored by the Los Angeles Audubon on February 26 out of San Pedro to Redondo Canyon, a trip made famous by a Manx Shearwater that wouldn't leave us alone a couple of years ago. http://www.socalbirding.com/upcomingtrips/sanpedrofeb262011.html Then it's time for the San Diego Bird Festival with four days of pelagic trips (March 3, 4, 5 and 6) led by (1) famed seabird author Peter Harrison, (2) 30+ year organizer of California pelagic birding Debi Shearwater, (3) Mr. More-Than-A-Year-At-Sea-Seeing-Seabirds Todd McGrath, (4) former editor of ABA's "Birding" and status/distribution expert of all things N.A. bird related Paul Lehman, and (5) the Godfather of California Birding Guy McCaskie to name just a few of the expert leaders who will be aboard. Thursday and Friday: http://www.socalbirding.com/upcomingtrips/sdbirdfestmar342011.html Saturday and Sunday: http://www.socalbirding.com/upcomingtrips/sdbirdfestmar562011.html W. Terry Hunefeld, Encinitas Life is short. Seabird often. In memory of Luke Cole and Mike San Miguel "Come on out with us to see what's out there." Southern California Seabirding Trips by: Buena Vista Audubon Society http://www.SoCalBirding.com Los Coronados Islands & Nine Mile Bank all the way to the edge of the Continental Shelf Subject: Good Alcids off Hatteras NOW; Possible Trip Jan. 15 From: "J. BRIAN PATTESON" <patteson1 AT embarqmail.com> Date: Tue, 11 Jan 2011 11:10:45 -0500 Seabirders, So far this has been a good winter for alcids. Although we have not run any pelagic birding trips since fall, we have been to sea a few times. There have been good numbers of Razorbills here since early December and we saw our first puffins on Dec. 22. On Dec. 30, I photographed a Thick-billed Murre a few miles southeast of Hatteras Inlet. Since then, Dovekies have arrived. I was out yesterday, Jan. 10 to the shelf break southeast of Hatteras Inlet, and saw about 35 or 40 Dovekies, more than 20 Atlantic Puffins, and over 30 Razorbills. That was just coming and going. If we had been running a pelagic birding trip, those numbers probably would have been much higher, given the calm conditions. Most of the Dovekies and puffins were seen between 10 and 20 miles out, and the Razorbills were more within 10 miles. We did not go anywhere near Diamond Shoals, which usually has many more Razorbills and often a Great Skua. The water was in the mid 40's where we saw most of the alcids. Although it's rough here now, the extended weather forecast looks good, so I am considering running a pelagic trip here from Hatteras this Saturday, Jan. 15 if enough people want to go. Contact me ASAP if interested. Otherwise our next trip is scheduled for Friday, Jan. 28 (Carolina Bird Club meeting- trip open to the public.) Following that we have trips planned for each weekend in February, w/ two weekends having possibly two trips. See our website for all of the dates: www.seabirding.com/ Winter trips are $160/person this year ($5 increase). Fuel is up from last year and continues to rise. We also have plenty of trips planned for this spring and summer; there are discounts for multiple trips. Hope to see you this year. Brian Patteson Hatteras, NC brian AT patteson.com www.seabirding.com/ Subject: 2011 Pelagics from Madeira Islands Update From: Hugo Romano <hugoromano AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 14 Dec 2010 16:20:05 +0000 Hello Seawatchers, Here is a quick update on the Zino's Petrel Pelagic Expedition off Madeira Island for 2011. The dates for these ultimate birding pelagics for 2011 are already online and some are already fully booked, so these were removed. Hurry up and book yours: http://j.mp/zinopelagics These are the reports of the excellent 2010 trips where you may check which species were seen. May 14, 15, 16 [Report http://j.mp/bmDLlA ] May 24, 25, 26 [Report http://j.mp/dyWPxN ] June 2, 3, 4 [Report http://j.mp/dnFua5 ] June 7, 8, 9 [Report http://j.mp/crbZn7 ] August 5, 6, 7 2010 [Report http://j.mp/h9xGJP ] August 14, 16, 17 2010 [Report http://j.mp/hiJmog ] Aug 30, 31 & Sept 1, 3 [Report http://j.mp/f9Efeh ] Interest in joining Wind Birds pelagics? Join the Pelagic's expeditions wish list and we will contact you. http://j.mp/pelagicslist Finally, if you are interested to know about the status of Zino's Petrel, visit Freira Conservation Project http://j.mp/freira All the best... Hugo Romano -- Madeira Wind Birds & Oceanodroma email: info AT madeirabirds.com sites: http://www.madeirawindbirds.com / http://www.madeirabirds.com ph: +351-917777441 / +351-291098007 twitter: AT windbirds AT oceanodroma facebook: http://facebook.com/windbirds Subject: Fwd: Arabian Shearwaters go to Oz? From: Andy Paterson <andy.birds AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 6 Dec 2010 20:53:37 +0100 Hi: This link was in a new type of multiple input blog. http://birdingblogs.com/2010/Gunnar/arabian-shearwater-or-something-else-in-australian-waters Best regards, Andy Paterson Torremolinos, España http://birding-the-costa.blogspot.com *NEW ENTRY: ****28/11 -* * FUERTEVENTURA* http://guiri-pajarero-suelto.blogspot.com *NUEVO: 1/12 - FUERTEVENTURA* -- Andy Torremolinos, España http://birding-the-costa.blogspot.com *NEW ENTRY: ****28/11 -* * FUERTEVENTURA* http://guiri-pajarero-suelto.blogspot.com *NUEVO: 1/12 - FUERTEVENTURA* [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Virtual Pelagic Birding in SoCal From: "thunefeld" <thunefeld AT gmail.com> Date: Sun, 21 Nov 2010 18:21:36 -0000 Greetings, Now you can go pelagic birding today via your computer. All the videos of the 2008 – 2010 SoCal pelagic trips are now on one page: http://www.socalbirding.com/videosofpasttrips.html The "Best Pelagic Sighting Doc-U-Photos of 2010" are at: http://www.socalbirding.com/2010tripreports.html Dream of 2011: The entire 2011 upcoming calendar of SoCal pelagic charters is complete: http://www.socalbirding.com/upcomingtrips.html W. Terry Hunefeld, Encinitas Life is short. Seabird often. In memory of Luke Cole and Mike San Miguel "Come on out with us to see what's out there." Southern California Seabirding Trips by: Buena Vista Audubon Society http://www.SoCalBirding.com Los Coronados Islands & Nine Mile Bank all the way to the edge of the Continental Shelf Subject: 7000 Least Storm-Petrels off San Diego - video From: "thunefeld" <thunefeld AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 26 Oct 2010 04:01:48 -0000 Greetings, Photos and video of the giant swarm of 10,000 thousand Least & Black Storm-Petrels off San Diego on 9 Oct 2010 are now posted. Visit: http://www.socalbirding.com/2010tripreports/sandiego9oct2010.html for photos and video. The video contains photos of the presumed Townsend's Leach's Storm-Petrel. W. Terry Hunefeld, Encinitas, San Diego Life is short. Seabird often. In memory of Luke Cole and Mike San Miguel "Come on out with us to see what's out there." SoCal Pelagic Birding Adventures by: Buena Vista Audubon Society http://www.SoCalBirding.com Los Coronados Islands & Nine Mile Bank all the way to the edge of the Continental Shelf Subject: SoCal Wedge-rumped Storm-Petrel & Flesh-footed Shearwater From: "thunefeld" <thunefeld AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 11 Oct 2010 19:54:17 -0000 Greetings, The Buena Vista Audubon Society deep water pelagic trip aboard Grande from 2-4 October photographed a WEDGE-RUMPED STORM-PETREL, a FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATER and rafts of thousands of LEAST STORM-PETRELS midway between San Diego and San Clemente Island. Also seen were Black-footed Albatrosses, a pair of BROWN BOOBIES and 5 species of whales including breaching Baird's Beaked Whales and a Sperm Whale. Details, photos, video and a complete accounting of the Wedge-rumped and other species are posted at: http://www.socalbirding.com/2010tripreports/sandiego24oct2010.html W. Terry Hunefeld, Encinitas Life is short. Seabird often. In memory of Luke Cole and Mike San Miguel "Come on out with us to see what's out there." Southern California Seabirding Trips by: Buena Vista Audubon Society http://www.SoCalBirding.com Los Coronados Islands & Nine Mile Bank all the way to the edge of the Continental Shelf Subject: Star spangled Pelagic coming up this weekend. From: Gunnar Engblom <kolibriexp AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 30 Sep 2010 00:52:05 -0500 I want to announce a quite remarkable pelagic coming up on Oct 2, on which the clients make this bird guide very humble. Some of the participants on this pelagic shine more than the birds we will be seeing. There are several participants who have seen more than 8000 species in the world. There are experienced Peru birders. There is a former Vice minister of Tourism. Some renowned bird illustrators and one famous author and photographer. Are you intrigued? Check out my latest blogpost, which also contains some shots from our last outing on Sep 25, including Westland Petrel again. http://www.kolibriexpeditions.com/birdingperu/blog/index.php/star-spangled-pelagic/ Enjoy! Gunnar Gunnar Engblom-Lima, Peru. Gunnar's Blog - updated frequently. http://www.kolibriexpeditions.com/birdingperu/blog/ Follow me on www.twitter.com/kolibrix http://www.facebook.com/Gunnar.Engblom/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Star spangled Pelagic coming up this weekend. From: Gunnar Engblom <kolibriexp AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 30 Sep 2010 00:52:05 -0500 I want to announce a quite remarkable pelagic coming up on Oct 2, on which the clients make this bird guide very humble. Some of the participants on this pelagic shine more than the birds we will be seeing. There are several participants who have seen more than 8000 species in the world. There are experienced Peru birders. There is a former Vice minister of Tourism. Some renowned bird illustrators and one famous author and photographer. Are you intrigued? Check out my latest blogpost, which also contains some shots from our last outing on Sep 25, including Westland Petrel again. http://www.kolibriexpeditions.com/birdingperu/blog/index.php/star-spangled-pelagic/ Enjoy! Gunnar Gunnar Engblom-Lima, Peru. Gunnar's Blog - updated frequently. http://www.kolibriexpeditions.com/birdingperu/blog/ Follow me on www.twitter.com/kolibrix http://www.facebook.com/Gunnar.Engblom/ Subject: White-faced Storm-petrels (22) on 2 day New England Pelagic from Cape Cod From: Emmalee Tarry <EmmaleeT AT msn.com> Date: Thu, 23 Sep 2010 11:50:54 -0400 August 28 -29 from Hyannis Port on Cape Cod This report is adapted from the report written by Marshall Iliff by Emmalee Tarry. For a complete report with pictures and temperature and depth maps see http://neseabirds.com/reports2010bbc.htm The Brookline Bird Club (BBC) overnight pelagic trip this year was historic for several reasons and was a truly PHENOMENAL trip. Despite predictions of a significant storm swell, we had pretty good conditions. Saturday 28 August was had a 10-15 mph N wind, which created some chop but really wasn't uncomfortable. We spent most of the day going south so had the wind and waves at our stern, making for a nice ride. On Sunday morning the wind slacked off a bit and conditions were fairly calm by late morning and very calm by afternoon. A bit of storm swell, with 20 sec period or so, was evident on Sunday but not at all uncomfortable. HIGHLIGHTS: WHITE-FACED STORM-PETREL - We had a total of 22 (!!); I would wager that this species is virtually certain to be found on future two-day trips, and birders nationwide should get this trip on their radar screen if they want to see White-faced Storm-Petrel. For many decades it has been known or suspected that White-faced is regular from mid-August to mid-September (probably regular to early October) in the deepwater canyons off New England (north to Cape Cod) and, to a lesser extent, the mid-Atlantic south to northern North Carolina. Targeted trips off New York, New Jersey, Maryland, and North Carolina have been having some success in finding the species in the last 10-15 years, with most trips scoring 30-50% of the time. The recent BBC deepwater pelagic trips have demonstrated even higher success, with the 2006 trip finding three, one (leader only) on one of the two August 2007 trips, but none on the August 2008 trip. Our suspicion was always that finding White-faced over Massachusetts canyons in late August was just a matter of effort, so in 2009 an overnight trip was conducted, and that trip had a total of SIX (!) White-faced, with three on each day. To our knowledge, the August 2009 trip was the most successful trip ever for the species, so this year's trip really set a new standard. On our first day we had FIVE White-faced in a relatively small area of Hydrographer Canyon. After that we went to deep waters, where we had none. The next morning we traveled west from Welker Canyon to Hydrographer Canyon. We cut a transect right along the edge of the Continental Shelf, where water depth was 2500 ft and water temperature was about 76-77 F. Along this transect we had no fewer than SEVENTEEN White-faced Storm-Petrels, for total of 22 (!) for the trip. Of those, only a couple were in Welker Canyon, three were in Hydrographer, and the remaining 12 were concentrated in a small canyon (we dubbed it 'No Name Canyon' but it is apparently Dogbody Canyon). Interestingly, all appeared to be juveniles, except for one which was photographed by several people on board. This total is UNPRECEDENTED for the western Atlantic, and strongly suggests that this is the center of their abundance in the western Atlantic. BAND-RUMPED STORM-PETREL - Over deep water, we had a prolonged chumming effort that brought in a number of these birds. Estimates varied from 6 to 10, and many of the birds were very well photographed. This may give some promise in the future to sorting out which species of Band-rumped Storm-Petrel occurs here. The only certain record for the western Atlantic pertains to a band recovery of a Grant's Storm-Petrel, but this species has yet to be formally described! Regardless, our success with Band-rumpeds both this year (6-10) and last (8) suggests that focused searches in deep water off Massachusetts will continue to succeed with this fascinating species (or species complex!). GREAT SKUA - We had a great view of an adult or near adult on Nantucket Shoals on our way out. Rick Heil spotted it distantly on the water, and when we looped back around the bird performed beautifully. Fantastic! SKUA SP. - A second bird, seen over Nantucket Shoals on the return trip, was briefly seen and the final ID remains up in the air. The identification rests essentially on the photos, although a couple people thought it looked cold blackish-brown in the field. AUDUBON'S SHEARWATER - We had several, and almost all were right over the deep canyons and continental shelf. This has proven a consistent area and this species has not been missed on recent trips in August. SHOREBIRDS - In addition to both phalaropes, we had the following shorebirds offshore: Baird's (!) and Semipalmated Sandpipers, Semipalmated Plover, Whimbrel (not far off Nantucket), Ruddy Turnstone, Solitary Sandpiper (calling bird heard by Willie Hutcheson at 9:15 pm far offshore), Sanderling, and HUDOSNIAN GODWIT (50+ birds seen and photographed on southbound migration about 100-200m up as we passed over the Nantucket Shoals; this is amazingly the third year in a row we have seen large flocks in active migration over these waters). LANDBIRDS - We had several amazing landbirds. A Baltimore Oriole far offshore (seen flying with storm-petrels!), was somewhat expected. It landed on the boat, was nursed back to health, and released. A RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was somewhat more surprising, and though it was seen incredibly distantly, photo review confirmed the ID based on the white patches in the wing which were impossible to see in the field. On the second day, a PURPLE FINCH, also confirming an ID that would not have been made in the field, was our surprise of the day. A few other passerines were poorly seen on Saturday and not IDed to species; one of them may have been a Yellow-bellied Flycatcher. Totals are as follows (thanks to Rick Heil for his diligence in keeping half-hourly (!) totals throughout the two days, and to Steve Mirick for his help in compiling the totals). The totals are listed as day 1,day 2 and the total for the two days. Below the totals, I discuss the significance of some of the reports. Common Loon...8,1 = 9 Cory's Shearwater...9,6 = 15 (surprisingly few; all those seen well were C. d. borealis) Great Shearwater...29,11 = 40 (surprisingly few) Manx Shearwater...3,2 = 5 AUDUBON'S SHEARWATER...3,2 = 5 (a few very good looks; most were over the deep-water canyons, but one was well offshore from there south-southwest of Welker Canyon) Shearwater sp. ...0,1 = 1 Wilson's Storm-Petrel...908,348 = 1256 WHITE-FACED STORM-PETREL...5,17 = 22 (!!! AMAZING total. See notes above) Leach's Storm-Petrel...43,40 = 83 (nice total; some great looks) BAND-RUMPED STORM-PETREL...10,0 = 10 (A high total; see notes above) Northern Gannet...19,15 = 34 Semipalmated Plover...1,0 = 1 (seen by a few on the bow over Nantucket Shoals) Sanderling...3,0 = 3 (several birds; flying low) Whimbrel...1,0 = 1 (flyby over Nantucket Shoals; only seen by a few) HUDSONIAN GODWIT...48,0 = 48 (amazing flock flying south at about 150-300m high; count in the field was 48 but photos show at least 50, maybe 51 (one bird looks smaller and possibly different. We have seen the phenomenon of Hudsonian Godwits in active migration on three successive years, which is truly amazing given that it is a rare species globally. This was our first morning flock, with the others in the afternoons or evenings) Ruddy Turnstone...0,2 = 2 (flying low to water; over Nantucket Shoals) BAIRD'S SANDPIPER...1,0 = 1 (flyby over Nantucket Shoals; only seen by a few) Semipalmated Sandpiper...1,0 = 1 Solitary Sandpiper...1,0 = 1 (one calling flyover heard by Willie Hutcheson at 9:00 pm at night) Red-necked Phalarop...5,43 = 48 Red Phalarope...0,27 = 27 (all birds in same area seen in direct comparison with Red-neckeds) Peep sp. ...7,0 = 7 GREAT SKUA...1,0 = 1 (spanking adult, well-seen and photographed by many) SKUA SP. ...0,1 = 1 (debate continues among leaders; some think Great Skua based on color of some back feathers, others favor South Polar based on body color, back pattern, and primary molt. The photos ) Pomarine Jaeger...0,1 = 1 (one subadult over Hydrographer Canyon) Parasitic Jaeger...1,1 = 2 (both juveniles over Nantucket Shoals) LONG-TAILED JAEGER...1,1 = 2 (both juveniles over Nantucket Shoals) Jaeger sp. ...0,1 = 1 Laughing Gull...1,5 = 6 Herring Gull...20,10= 30 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL...0,2 = 2 (one adult and one third-summer on Nantucket Shoals; our first for these summer trips) Great Black-backed Gull...12,4 = 16 Black Tern...2,5 = 7 (all rather far inshore) Least Tern...1,0 = 1 (juvenile, near Hydrographer Canyon; getting late for this species) Common Tern...42,89 = 131 Tern sp. ...0,16 = 16 Tree Swallow...3,0 = 3 Baltimore Oriole...1,0 = 1 (rescued off Welker Canyon (Seen flying with 3 species of storm-petrel!), and rescued). RED-HEADED WOODPECKER...1,0 = 1 (amazing distant flyby heading north over Nantucket Shoals; the photo review confirmed tentative field impressions that flight style matched this species; the photos showed the diagnostic white secondaries. Our first offshore sighting for this species!) PURPLE FINCH...0,1 = 1 (Another puzzle resolved by expert photography; photos shows the notched tail, patterned face, and streaked body, which matched The highly undulating flight style in supporting the ID as Purple Finch Some seen on Long Island this same weekend suggest an early, small-scale movement was afoot.) Passerine sp...3,1 = 4 OTHER FAUNA: Fin Whale...5,17 = 23 Whale sp...0,4 = 4 Minke Whale...0,1 = 1 Risso's Dolphin...12,0 = 12 ATLANTIC SPOTTED DOLPHIN...60,0 = 60 Bottlenosed Dolphin...8,0 = 8 dolphin sp...15,0 = 15 Atlantic Manta...9,2 = 11 (some questions remain as to how many species we may have seen and may occur) Ocean Sunfish (Mola mola) ...1,0 = 1 shark sp...1,3 = 4 Pilotfish...0,4 = 4 (around Atlantic Manta) White Suckerfish...0,2 = 2 (on Atlantic Manta) Yellowfin Tuna...1 caught,0 = 1 PORBEAGLE SHARK...1,0 = 1 Mahi Mahi...0,1 = 1 It was a great trip. Thanks again to the Brookline Bird Club (BBC), Ida for all her efforts organizing, Captain Joe for his superlative captaining, and everything else. We can't wait until next year! Report by Marshall Iliff Marshall J. Iliff miliff AT aol.com West Roxbury, MA ------------------------------ eBird/AKN Project Leader www.ebird.org www.avianknowledge.net Cornell Lab of Ornithology Ithaca, NY Emmalee Bowers Tarry EmmaleeT AT msn.com EmmaleeTarry.us www.NEseabirds.com AHS56.com [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: California Pelagic Birding - past and upcoming From: "thunefeld" <thunefeld AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 20 Sep 2010 02:15:04 -0000 Greetings, The GPS/Google trip-track for the August 16-17 Deep Water Trip aboard Grande in San Diego and Los Angeles counties has been posted showing the locations of the San Diego Brown Booby and the Long-tailed Jaeger, Red-Billed Tropicbird, Blue Whale, Buller's Shearwater and Ashy Storm-Petrels. http://www.socalbirding.com/2010tripreports/sandiegoaug16182010.html The October 9-11 56-hour deep-water trip aboard Grande is sold out. You may have your name put on the back-up list by calling Point Loma Sportfishing. ALL San Diego, ALL the time. There are still seats available on the October 9 day trip aboard Grande to the Thirty-Mile Bank to look for San Diego rarities/specialties like Ashy, Least, Leach's and Black Storm-Petrels, Red-billed Tropicbird, Craveri's Murrelet and perhaps an albatross or Long-tailed Jaeger as well as both flavors of Xantus's Murrelet and Blue, Fin and Humpback Whales and who knows what else? This trip will NOT visit the Coronados Islands, but stay in San Diego waters all 12 hours. Price is $90 for this 12-hour pelagic. Save $15 with early bird prices of $75 through September 27. http://www.socalbirding.com/trips/sandiegooct92010.html An apparent Great-winged Petrel was photographed in Monterey Bay yesterday. I'm on the way to Monterey this week on my annual autumn pilgrimage to the birthplace of California Pelagic Birding: Shearwater Journeys. 5 trips in a row - talk about perfect timing! Some of Debi's trips are sold out, but some still have a few spots available. http://www.shearwaterjourneys.com/index.shtml W. Terry Hunefeld, Encinitas Life is short. Seabird often. In memory of Luke Cole and Mike San Miguel "Come on out with us to see what's out there." Southern California Seabirding Trips by: Buena Vista Audubon Society http://www.SoCalBirding.com Los Coronados Islands & Nine Mile Bank all the way to the edge of the Continental Shelf Subject: San Diego trip report: Flesh-footed Shearwater; Cook's; 4 tropicbirds From: "thunefeld" <thunefeld AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 16 Sep 2010 18:05:30 -0000 (San Diego) Searcher's Labor Day week luxury live-aboard pelagic adventure through the Channel Islands and deep waters beyond the Continental Shelf began with a Black Storm-Petrel in San Diego Harbor, 2 Black Oystercatchers at Ballast Point, a LONG-TAILED JAEGER, 15 LEAST and a WILSON'S STORM-PETREL at the Nine Mile Bank in San Diego Waters. The trip also recorded a FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATER, a COOK'S PETREL and 4 RED-BILLED TROPICBIRDS in LA County near the Bell Bank 130+ n. miles offshore. Other highlights included dozens of Buller's Shearwaters, more than 100 Long-tailed Jaegers, South Polar Skua, lots of Ashy and 3 subspecies of Leach's Storm-Petrels, plus 14 albatrosses. Trip List, Species List, Trip Track, Photos and Video are posted at: http://www.socalbirding.com/2010tripreports/searcher610sep2011.html Next SoCal trips are this Saturday (Santa Barbara) and next Saturday (Dana Point) http://www.socalbirding.com/upcomingtrips.html Debi Shearwater is in the heart of her season. It's the most wonderful time of the year! I'll be up there for 5 trips in a row next week to find my life Streaked Shearwater. http://www.socalbirding.com/upcomingtrips.html W. Terry Hunefeld, Encinitas Life is short. Seabird often. In memory of Luke Cole "Come on out with us to see what's out there." Southern California Seabirding Trips by: Buena Vista Audubon Society http://www.SoCalBirding.com Los Coronados Islands & Nine Mile Bank all the way to the edge of the Continental Shelf Subject: Speedboat pelagics in Lima. From: Gunnar Engblom <kolibriexp AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 14 Sep 2010 19:25:47 -0500 Hi all Recently we have made pelagics with a good open speed boat from Callao. This is what we saw on Sep 9 during 6.5 hours at sea (of which 1.5 hours was chumming at 32nmiles). Humboldt Penguin  (Spheniscus humboldti) 6 Waved Albatross  (Phoebastria irrorata) 2 ; Buller's Albatross  (Thalassarche bulleri) 1 Ad:1 ; Northern Giant-Petrel  (Macronectes halli) 2 ; White-chinned Petrel  (Procellaria aequinoctialis) 20 ; Sooty Shearwater  (Puffinus griseus) 400 ; Pink-footed Shearwater  (Puffinus creatopus) 1 ; Wilson's Storm Petrel  (Oceanites oceanicus) 3 ; White-vented Storm Petrel  (Oceanites gracilis) 200 ; Markham's Storm Petrel  (Oceanodroma markhami) 3 ; Hornby's Storm Petrel  (Oceanodroma hornbyi) 5 ; Peruvian Diving Petrel  (Pelecanoides garnotii) 5 ; Peruvian Pelican  (Pelecanus thagus) 600 ; Peruvian Booby  (Sula variegata) 4000 ; Neotropic Cormorant  (Phalacrocorax brasilianus) 100 ; Guanay Cormorant  (Phalacrocorax bougainvillii) 10 ; Red-legged Cormorant  (Phalacrocorax gaimardi) 15 ; Turkey Vulture  (Cathartes aura) 20 ; Blackish Oystercatcher  (Haematopus ater) 3 ; American Oystercatcher  (Haematopus palliatus) 2 ; Ruddy Turnstone  (Arenaria interpres) 2 ; Surfbird  (Aphriza virgata) 25 ; Red-necked Phalarope  (Phalaropus lobatus) 20 ; Red Phalarope  (Phalaropus fulicaria) 20 ; Chilean Skua  (Stercorarius chilensis) 6 ; Parasitic Jaeger  ( Stercorarius parasiticus ) 1 ; Long-tailed Jaeger  ( Stercorarius longicaudus ) 3 ; Band-tailed Gull  (Larus belcheri) Gray Gull  (Larus modestus) 20 ; Kelp Gull  (Larus dominicanus) 20 ; South American Tern  (Sterna hirundinacea) 12 ; Inca Tern Black Skimmer  (Rynchops niger) 1 ; Next Lima pelagic is on Sep 25 (only 2 spaces left - speed boat for 8-9 hours) and on Oct 2 (large catamaran). On October 2 there will be bunch of top +8000 birders, as well as Hadoram Shirihai and David Beadle on board. Gunnar Gunnar Engblom-Lima, Peru. Gunnar's Blog - updated frequently. http://www.kolibriexpeditions.com/birdingperu/blog/ Follow me on www.twitter.com/kolibrix http://www.facebook.com/Gunnar.Engblom/ Subject: Speedboat pelagics in Lima. From: Gunnar Engblom <kolibriexp AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 14 Sep 2010 19:25:47 -0500 Hi all Recently we have made pelagics with a good open speed boat from Callao. This is what we saw on Sep 9 during 6.5 hours at sea (of which 1.5 hours was chumming at 32nmiles). Humboldt Penguin  (Spheniscus humboldti) 6 Waved Albatross  (Phoebastria irrorata) 2 ; Buller's Albatross  (Thalassarche bulleri) 1 Ad:1 ; Northern Giant-Petrel  (Macronectes halli) 2 ; White-chinned Petrel  (Procellaria aequinoctialis) 20 ; Sooty Shearwater  (Puffinus griseus) 400 ; Pink-footed Shearwater  (Puffinus creatopus) 1 ; Wilson's Storm Petrel  (Oceanites oceanicus) 3 ; White-vented Storm Petrel  (Oceanites gracilis) 200 ; Markham's Storm Petrel  (Oceanodroma markhami) 3 ; Hornby's Storm Petrel  (Oceanodroma hornbyi) 5 ; Peruvian Diving Petrel  (Pelecanoides garnotii) 5 ; Peruvian Pelican  (Pelecanus thagus) 600 ; Peruvian Booby  (Sula variegata) 4000 ; Neotropic Cormorant  (Phalacrocorax brasilianus) 100 ; Guanay Cormorant  (Phalacrocorax bougainvillii) 10 ; Red-legged Cormorant  (Phalacrocorax gaimardi) 15 ; Turkey Vulture  (Cathartes aura) 20 ; Blackish Oystercatcher  (Haematopus ater) 3 ; American Oystercatcher  (Haematopus palliatus) 2 ; Ruddy Turnstone  (Arenaria interpres) 2 ; Surfbird  (Aphriza virgata) 25 ; Red-necked Phalarope  (Phalaropus lobatus) 20 ; Red Phalarope  (Phalaropus fulicaria) 20 ; Chilean Skua  (Stercorarius chilensis) 6 ; Parasitic Jaeger  ( Stercorarius parasiticus ) 1 ; Long-tailed Jaeger  ( Stercorarius longicaudus ) 3 ; Band-tailed Gull  (Larus belcheri) Gray Gull  (Larus modestus) 20 ; Kelp Gull  (Larus dominicanus) 20 ; South American Tern  (Sterna hirundinacea) 12 ; Inca Tern Black Skimmer  (Rynchops niger) 1 ; Next Lima pelagic is on Sep 25 (only 2 spaces left - speed boat for 8-9 hours) and on Oct 2 (large catamaran). On October 2 there will be bunch of top +8000 birders, as well as Hadoram Shirihai and David Beadle on board. Gunnar Gunnar Engblom-Lima, Peru. Gunnar's Blog - updated frequently. http://www.kolibriexpeditions.com/birdingperu/blog/ Follow me on www.twitter.com/kolibrix http://www.facebook.com/Gunnar.Engblom/ Subject: Pelagic from South West Ireland From: "birdingireland" <birdingireland AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 14 Sep 2010 18:00:37 -0000 There are spaces available on a pelagic from Baltimore, West Cork on 25th Sept leaving at 10am and returning 5.30pm. Cost is e70pp. Provisionally we hope to go out due south of Cape for about 10 miles and then over to the Mizen to conect with a known flight line. The cost will be a bargain basement price of euro 70 per person. Chum will be used. If you want to come along please contact me via email ( first come -first seved). Local accommodation can be arranged for those who might be staying overnight Regards, Mike Cobley Subject: Trip report: Perpetua Bank, Oregon, 11 September 2010 From: "thebirdguide" <greg AT thebirdguide.com> Date: Tue, 14 Sep 2010 15:53:24 -0000 http://thebirdguide.com/pelagics/archive/09112010.htm Pelagic trip report: Saturday, September 11, 2010 11 hours From Newport, Oregon, to 30 miles west of Newport, then south 10 miles to the seaward slope of Perpetua Bank. Seas: gentle seas, winds 10 knots. Boat: Misty Captain Robert Waddell Newport Tradewinds Charter The Bird Guide, Inc. http://thebirdguide.com/ Guides: Greg Gillson, Tim Shelmerdine, Shawneen Finnegan, Russ Namitz, David Mandell A great trip with good seas, soft breeze, and lots of birds and marine mammals in view constantly throughout the day. Highlights included high numbers of Pink-footed Shearwaters, Buller's Shearwaters, Sabine's Gulls, South Polar Skuas, and Humpback Whales. The Flesh-footed Shearwater views were better than any we've had in 10 years. Alcid numbers were low. Cheryl Welchel posted photos here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/vgswallow16/ My photos: http://www.pbase.com/gregbirder/20100911_perpetua Species list: Green-winged Teal 1 Surf Scoter 60 White-winged Scoter 7 Red-throated Loon 2 Black-footed Albatross 135 Northern Fulmar 45 Pink-footed Shearwater 2300 Flesh-footed Shearwater 1 Buller's Shearwater 225 Sooty Shearwater 75 Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel 80 Brown Pelican 12 (bay) Brandt's Cormorant 100 (40 in bay) Double-crested Cormorant 25 (bay) Pelagic Cormorant 40 (20 in bay) Wandering Tattler 2 (jetty) Black Turnstone 2 (jetty) Surfbird 8 (jetty) Red-necked Phalarope 60 Red Phalarope 8 Sabine's Gull 250 (all adult except for 2-3 juvenile) Heermann's Gull 15 (bay) Mew Gull 5 (bay) Western Gull 120 (70 in bay) California Gull 120 (40 in bay) Glaucous-winged Gull 1 (bay) Olympic Gull (Glaucous-winged x Western) 5 (bay) Common Tern 5 South Polar Skua 12 Pomarine Jaeger 18 Parasitic Jaeger 2 jaeger (undetermined species) 3 Common Murre 120 (most parent/chick pairs) Pigeon Guillemot 15 Marbled Murrelet 10 Cassin's Auklet 15 Rhinoceros Auklet 15 Gray Whale 2 Humpback Whale 20 Pacific White-sided Dolphin 20 Dall's Porpoise 8 Harbor Porpoise 20 Northern Fur Seal 2 Northern Elephant Seal 2 California Sea Lion 170 (150 in bay) Steller's Sea Lion 8 Harbor Seal 8 (bay) Blue Shark 2 Salmon Shark 1 Soupfin Shark 2 Ocean Sunfish 7 Greg Gillson The Bird Guide, Inc. greg AT thebirdguide.com http://thebirdguide.com Subject: Added: Hatteras Pelagic Trips Sept. 18 (19); Oct. 16 (17) From: "J. BRIAN PATTESON" <patteson1 AT embarqmail.com> Date: Thu, 9 Sep 2010 17:26:33 -0400 Sorry for the late notice, but we have added a couple of trips to our schedule for this summer/fall from Hatteras, NC. Both are scheduled for Saturday with Sunday for back-up: Sept. 18(19) and Oct. 16(17). Late summer and fall is a good time for birding in the Gulf Stream and we expect Black-capped Petrel, shearwaters, storm-petrels, phalaropes, jaegers, and terns on these dates. Exactly what we see depends on a myriad for factors of course, but there are certainly many possibilities, including some rare tubenoses. So far, the bird of the year for us was a Black-bellied Storm-Petrel on August 14. This was the second for the boat, third for Hatteras, fourth off North Carolina and fourth for the Western North Atlantic, all of these since 2004! We also had a good run of Trindade Petrels in July and August of this year, after a notable absence this spring. Elsewhere in the North Atlantic, there was a White-chinned Petrel off Bar Harbor August 24 and an unprecedented 17 White-faced Storm-Petrels in a day the following weekend in the northern canyons to the southwest of George's Bank. Not everyone knows this, but a White-chinned Petrel was photographed (distantly) off Oregon Inlet, NC in mid October 1996. It was not accepted by committees, but I have seen the photo and it was certainly identifiable to genus in the slide. Whether you are a veteran pelagic birder or a first time ocean birder, these trips could be interesting. We'll do our best to chum up what's around and if it's half as good as our last trip was for up close Black-capped Petrels, you won't be disappointed. While the water is still warm in the Gulf Stream, it should be cooling off a bit inshore, making it more likely to see some neat water fronts and aggregations of birds at such places. Anyhow, you'll have to be there to see it, whatever it is. More information about the birding trips we run is on our website at http://www.seabirding.com/. For those who are not aware of it, we operate these trips ourselves on our boat, which is very well suited to pelagic birding. So far this year, we have run 35 trips, and over the last five years, nearly 200 pelagic birding trips off Cape Hatteras. Nevertheless, much remains to be learned about the bird life during certain seasons and there remain many birders and naturalists who have yet to experience what the Gulf Stream has to offer. We hope to see both some new recruits and old friends on these trips. Brian Patteson Hatteras, NC brian AT patteson.com http://www.seabirding.com/ http://www.thestormypetrel.com/ Subject: SoCal Pelagic Trip Report & Upcoming Trips From: "thunefeld" <thunefeld AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 26 Aug 2010 04:24:05 -0000 Greetings, Participants on last week's sold out 48-hour trip aboard Grande saw a San Diego Brown Booby at the Nine Mile Bank, Skuas, tropicbirds, Long-tailed Jaegers, Sabine's Gulls, Blue Whales, Pacific White-sided Dolphin, 4 species of Storm-Petrels and 4 amazingly awesome pods of seldom-seen-this-well Baird's Beaked Whales. The trip list and photos are posted at: http://www.socalbirding.com/tripreports/sandiegoaug16182010.html UPCOMING PELAGIC BIRDING ADVENTURES FROM SAN DIEGO Mon – Friday Sept 6-10. The Mercedes-Benz of Pelagic Trips aboard Searcher. Air-conditioned staterooms, 4 bathrooms, chef-prepared meals, wine, beer and ICE CREAM all included in cost. This trip has it all. Lunch over the Nine Mile Bank, wake up in the Channel Islands, wake up in two-mile deep water, cruise and chum past the San Juan seamount, wake up in the south-western most regions of the ABA. Still some spots available. http://www.socalbirding.com/trips/searchersep6102010.html Oct 2-4. In search of Cook's, Stejneger's, Mottled and Hawaiian Petrels – a 56-hour Deep Water Adventure to the San Juan Seamount and Patton Escarpment aboard Grande. Already half sold out. http://www.socalbirding.com/trips/sandiegooct242010.html Oct 9. 12 hours. The Craveri's Express. San Diego waters ALL day, ALL the time. The best chance to see tropicbird, Craveri's Murrelet, Least & Ashy Storm-Petrels, Skua, Long-tailed Jaeger and Buller's Shearwater in San Diego Waters. http://www.socalbirding.com/trips/sandiegooct92010.html W. Terry Hunefeld, Encinitas Life is short. Seabird often. In memory of Luke Cole and Mike San Miguel http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aW8-13p-IE "Come on out with us to see what's out there." Southern California Seabirding Trips by: Buena Vista Audubon Society http://www.SoCalBirding.com Los Coronados Islands & Nine Mile Bank all the way to the edge of the Continental Shelf Subject: SoCal Pelagic Trip Report & Upcoming Trips From: "thunefeld" <thunefeld AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 26 Aug 2010 04:20:18 -0000 Greetings, Participants on last week's sold out 48-hour trip aboard Grande from San Diego saw a San Diego Brown Booby at the Nine Mile Bank, Skuas, tropicbirds, Long-tailed Jaegers, Sabine's Gulls, Blue Whales, Pacific White-sided Dolphin, 4 species of Storm-Petrels and 4 amazingly awesome pods of seldom-seen-this-well Baird's Beaked Whales. The trip list and photos are posted at: http://www. socalbirding. com/tripreports/sandiegoaug16182010. html UPCOMING PELAGIC BIRDING ADVENTURES FROM SAN DIEGO Mon - Friday Sept 6-10. The Mercedes-Benz of Pelagic Trips aboard Searcher. Air-conditioned staterooms, 4 bathrooms, chef-prepared meals, wine, beer and ICE CREAM all included in cost. This trip has it all. Lunch over the Nine Mile Bank, wake up in the Channel Islands, wake up in two-mile deep water, cruise and chum past the San Juan seamount, wake up in the south-western most regions of the ABA. Still some spots available. http://www. socalbirding. com/trips/searchersep6102010. html Oct 2-4. In search of Cook's, Stejneger's, Mottled and Hawaiian Petrels - a 56-hour Deep Water Adventure to the San Juan Seamount and Patton Escarpment aboard Grande. Already half sold out. http://www. socalbirding. com/trips/sandiegooct242010. html Oct 9. 12 hours. The Craveri's Express. San Diego waters ALL day, ALL the time. The best chance to see tropicbird, Craveri's Murrelet, Least & Ashy Storm-Petrels, Skua, Long-tailed Jaeger and Buller's Shearwater in San Diego Waters. http://www. socalbirding. com/trips/sandiegooct92010. html W. Terry Hunefeld, Encinitas Life is short. Seabird often. In memory of Luke Cole and Mike San Miguel http://www. youtube. com/watch? v=4aW8-13p-IE "Come on out with us to see what's out there." Southern California Seabirding Trips by: Buena Vista Audubon Society http://www. SoCalBirding. com Los Coronados Islands & Nine Mile Bank all the way to the edge of the Continental Shelf Subject: Santa Barbara California 31 July 2010 Trip Report & Video From: "thunefeld" <thunefeld AT gmail.com> Date: Fri, 06 Aug 2010 20:03:04 -0000 Greetings, The Condor Express sailed into perfect seas on 31 July 2010 from Santa Barbara to the San Juan Seamount. We saw migrating Arctic Terns, South Polar Skuas, Long-tailed Jaegers and Sabine's Gulls. We also saw Black-footed Albatrosses, Cook's Petrels, lots of Ashy Storm-petrels, hypoleuca Xantus's Murrelets, Blue Whales, Fin Whales, Humpback Whales and rarely seen Baird's Beaked Whales. See the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajzePuB1p14 See the trip report: http://www.socalbirding.com/tripreports/santabarbarajul312010.html See upcoming trips: http://www.socalbirding.com/upcomingtrips.html We highly recommend the air-conditioned chef-equipped SEARCHER pelagic adventure going out on Monday, Labor Day, returning the following Friday morning for the ultimate birding experience through the bird-rich Channel Islands and to the deep waters off the edge of the Continental Shelf. SEARCHER: http://www.socalbirding.com/trips/searchersep6102010.html W. Terry Hunefeld, Encinitas Life is short. Seabird often. In memory of Luke Cole and Mike San Miguel http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aW8-13p-IE "Come on out with us to see what's out there." Southern California Seabirding Trips by: Buena Vista Audubon Society http://www.SoCalBirding.com Los Coronados Islands & Nine Mile Bank all the way to the edge of the Continental Shelf Subject: Aug-Sept SoCal Pelagics - Craveri's Murrelet, Least Storm-Petrels From: "thunefeld" <thunefeld AT gmail.com> Date: Fri, 30 Jul 2010 00:35:13 -0000 Greetings, The annual Aug 16-18 Buena Vista Audubon 48-hour Summer Pelagic aboard the live-aboard Grande is nearly sold out, with 34 spots reserved, 4 spots remaining. A similar trip in May produced 170 Cook's Petrels. Red-billed Tropicbird has never been missed on a 48-hour Grande trip, and this species appears to be present in moderate numbers off SoCal this year. This trip will be great for studying Leach's storm-petrel subspecies. Other area-specialty targets are Least Storm-Petrel and Craveri's Murrelet. Small numbers of Leasts have been reported nearshore already this year. Grande is a comfortable 85 ft boat, with bunks for 38 passengers. Sleeping is in a dormitory style bunk room below deck. Hot food and beverages are available for purchase. details are below. ADVANCE RESERVATIONS: Advance reservations are $325, discounted to $285 if registered by July 31. http://www. socalbirding. com/trips/sandiegoaug16182010. html RESERVATIONS BY PHONE: Telephone Point Loma Sportfishing (the landing) seven days a week at (619) 223-1627. Tell them to wish to make a reservation for the Aug Birding trip on Grande. THE SEARCHER NATURAL HISTORY TOURS ANNUAL LABOR DAY PELAGIC The annual Labor Day 5-day pelagic adventure departs San Diego Noon on Monday, Sept 6 and returns to the dock at 0700 hours Friday Sept 10. This is the most luxury you'll ever find while birding and marine mammal sighting (Blue Whales, Humpback and Fin Whales!). Comfortable staterooms, gourmet meals, and a trip through all of the life-zones of the Southern California bight are just a couple of the things that make this trip a winner. Least Storm-Petrel and Red-billed Tropicbird are expected, along with almost all the regularly occurring seabirds in Southern CA. Searcher's impressive September trip rarities have included Red-tailed Tropicbird, Bulwer's Petrel, Hawaiian Petrel, Cook's and Murphy's Petrels. 3 subspecies of Leach's storm-Petrels will be seen plus Black and Ashy Storm-Petrels, making this a great Storm-petrel study tour. SEARCHER'S blog just reported that they saw BAIRD'S BEAKED WHALES on a fishing trip this week. SEARCHER is the mother of all pelagic trips. Leader Todd McGrath loves waking up at dawn far out to sea, watching the sunset over the San Juan Seamount, hollering out rare birds like petrels and tropicbirds while nibbling warm, fresh-from-the-oven chocolate chip cookies. I'll never forget the September sunny, calm afternoon 100 miles offshore aboard Searcher when Todd found and stopped the boat while thundering, `DARK-RUMPED PETREL! DARK-RUMPED PETREL!" All of Chef Charles's meals, ice cream, cookies, wine, beer, home-baked muffins, soft drinks, etc are included in the ticket price - you WILL gain weight. Searcher is an immaculate 4-bathroom, 95ft vessel designed to do multi-week fishing and natural history tours in air-conditioned comfort. The crew from the Captain to the deckhands are friendly, accommodating and helpful. There is no trip we look forward to more each fall, and we hope you can join us. This trip typically is sold out by now, but this year there are still some spots. ADVANCE RESERVATIONS: Advance reservations are $1075 and include all meals, snacks, beverages. Reservations for this trip are handled by Celia at Searcher Natural History Tours (619) 226-2403 or http://www. socalbirding. com/trips/searchersep6102010. html We hope to see you out there as we continue to relish one of the most amazing pelagic years ever recorded according to people who have been doing this a LOT longer than me! Peace on earth. W. Terry Hunefeld, Encinitas Life is short. Seabird often. In memory of Luke Cole and Mike San Miguel http://www. youtube. com/watch? v=4aW8-13p-IE "Come on out with us to see what's out there." Southern California Seabirding Trips by: Buena Vista Audubon Society http://www. SoCalBirding. com Los Coronados Islands & Nine Mile Bank all the way to the edge of the Continental Shelf Inn At Moonlight Beach San Diego's Pacific Coast Bed & Breakfast Inn Romantic oceanview suites from $129 http://www. InnAtMoonlightBeach. com Subject: July 10 Hatteras Report; Next Trip July 24 From: "J. BRIAN PATTESON" <patteson1 AT embarqmail.com> Date: Sun, 11 Jul 2010 18:59:41 -0400 Seabirders, We ran a pelagic trip yesterday from Hatteras and had good birding, seeing 8 species of tubenoses, which totalled over 800 individuals and less than half of these were Wilson's Storm-Petrels! Greater Shearwater was actually the most numerous bird of the trip, with at least 350 seen. Most of these were within 20 miles of shore and it seems likely that we would have seen many more if we had not spent a few hours working outside the shelf break. But the deep water was good too: we found a good number of Black-capped Petrels out there, as well as a several Band-rumped Storm-Petrels, which came in close to feed in the chum slick many times. A single Leach's Storm-Petrel was also seen well but briefly. Most surprising was a Sandwich Tern over 30 miles out. We saw several Sandwich Terns early in the morning about five miles out, where we found our first shearwaters- Cory's, Greater, and Manx. A South Polar Skua also came by behind us a few minutes later, but most of us missed it, as we were underway. Fortunately, the time I alotted for shallow water during the afternoon was well spent. We saw a Manx Shearwater sitting with Greaters just spitting distance from the boat, and within minutes, we spotted a South Polar Skua battering shearwaters in another flock. While the skua kept its distance, the Manx Shearwater provided an excellent photo opportunity and I managed to get a good shot, despite having to hand focus on account of techincal difficulties. It was kind of like the old days, expecting maybe five out of a hundred shots to be good by today's standards. The only difference was that it did not take days to find out. I'm hoping this summer will also be a bit like the old days for pelagic birding in the Gulf Stream- hundreds of shearwaters, skuas, dozens of Black-caps and Band-rumps, tropicbirds, a few Trindade Petrels, nice weather.... The last couple of summers have been pretty poor birdwise, at least until late August, when we just had a couple of trips left. But this year seems a bit different. We had odd conditions this spring, with a very distant Gulf Stream and cold water inshore. Now we have a more typical Gulf Stream, but the water inshore has been cooler and there is a lot of bait in the shelf water, which is probably what is holding the shearwaters here. While it was hotter than usual in late June, we've had more shifting winds lately than we sometimes get in midsummer. If we continue to get a regular shot of northerly winds every few days, then I expect the birding will better than when we have weeks of either calm conditions or unabated southwesterly winds, such as the last two summers. Three days of northeast winds a week and a half ago reminded me of the set up for Swinhoe's Storm-Petrel and Bulwer's Petrel in early August 1998 and multiple Trindade Petrels in mid August 2000. We have several trips scheduled for July and August of this year, with weekly departures planned beginning July 24. Space is available on all of our upcoming trips. I've said it before, but the fact remains. These are the best North Carolina Gulf Stream trips ever. Close looks at birds, incredible photo ops, and plenty of deck space on a very stable boat. We welcome newcomers and old salts alike. For what it's worth, we can get you out of cell phone range for several hours. I hope you will think about the value of these trips beyond the daily list of birds, but here it is for July 10, 2010. Black-capped Petrel- 53+ Cory's Shearwater- 85+ Greater Shearwater- 350+ Manx Shearwater- 4 Audubon's Shearwater- 5 Wilson's Storm-Petrel- 335+ Leach's Storm-Petrel- 1 "Band-rumped" Storm-Petrel- 8-9 large storm-petrel sp.- 1 South Polar Skua- 1-2 Information about our trips is online at http://www.seabirding.com/. Be sure to look back years into the trip lists; there is a lot there. You will learn more about what is sometimes like if you look back five, ten, or fifteen years. Pelagic birding is generally not consistent in terms of results. As far as numbers of birds go, I feel like we have seen a big decline in Audubon's Shearwaters, but it's hard to tell about any other species. Conditions here are constantly changing and that's why we try to offer back to back trips as much as possible. But if one trip is enough for you, we would still like to have you. If you have questions after perusing the website, give me a call- 252-986-1363 Evenings before 9PM EDT. Thanks, Brian Patteson Hatteras, NC brian AT patteson.com www.seabirding.com/ Subject: Pelagic off South West Ireland August 2010 From: "birdingireland" <birdingireland AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 09 Jul 2010 10:22:26 -0000 Hi all seabirders, Due to a cancelation there is one place available on an eight hour trip out of Union Hall, South West Cork on 15th August 2010. Please contact me for further details if you are interested. Local accommodation can be arranged if required. Michael Cobley www.birdingireland.com